How to protect your WhatsApp chats with Face ID or Touch ID

With the latest update of WhatsApp for iOS, the possibility of protecting conversations using Touch ID or Face ID begins to officially arrive. This is a feature that users of the application have been demanding for a long time,and that gives chats extra security. In this way, if you are looking for more privacy in an individual or group conversation, you can protect it by activating facial recognition or fingerprint. We explain how.

The first thing, of course, is to have the latest WhatsApp update installed and check that your iPhone is compatible with Face ID (iPhone X, XR, XS and XS Max) or Touch ID (iPhone 5s, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8 and 8 Plus). Once you have this in order, enter the app settings, Account and click on the Privacy option. Just below Read receipts it should appear a new option “Screen lock”. If you see that it is not there, it means that you still do not have the latest WhatsApp update on your device. Wait a few days and check again.

Depending on the iPhone model you have, it will allow you to block using fingerprint or facial recognition. When you activate this new feature, you will be able to change the frequency of blocking.You can choose to have it immediately, after a minute, 15 minutes or an hour has elapsed. Keep in mind that even if WhatsApp is blocked, it will be possible to reply to messages from the notifications. However, if they are accessed by someone else, they will not be able to join the conversations thanks to this new type of blocking.

Therefore, if the device's fingerprint or facial recognition sensor does not recognize the face or fingerprint, an image of WhatsApp lock (as you can see in the image above). With this novelty, the company once again demonstrates that it continues to work to advance in terms of security and privacy, an issue that is of great concern to the user community.