April 2, 2025

WhatsApp Privacy Settings: A Step-by-Step Guide

Configure who sees your activity, protect your account, and control information sharing.

7 Core privacy controls

4 Security features

100% End-to-end encryption

WhatsApp Privacy Quick Setup

Settings → Privacy → Set Last Seen/Profile/Status to “My Contacts” → Enable Two-Step Verification → Turn on App Lock → Use Disappearing Messages.

WhatsApp Privacy Controls

Setting	Location	Recommended	Options
Last Seen/Online	Privacy → Last Seen	My Contacts	Everyone/Nobody/Contacts
Profile Photo	Privacy → Profile Photo	My Contacts	Everyone/Nobody/Contacts
Status Updates	Privacy → Status	My Contacts Except…	Share With…
Read Receipts	Privacy → Read Receipts	Off	On/Off
Groups	Privacy → Groups	My Contacts	Everyone/Contacts

Two-Step Verification: Settings → Account → Two-Step → Enable → Set 6-digit PIN + Email
App Lock: Settings → Privacy → App Lock → Enable Fingerprint/Face ID → Set timer
Disappearing Messages: Chat → Contact Name → Disappearing Messages → 24h/7d/90d
Block Contacts: Chat → Contact Name → Block → Confirm
Live Location: Privacy → Live Location → Stop sharing when not needed

End-to-end encryption means only sender/receiver can read messages. Backups need separate protection.

Privacy → Last Seen & Online → Nobody. Note: you won’t see others’ status either.

No profile updates, single tick messages, no last seen = likely blocked.