Ignoring these 5 WhatsApp settings could prove costly; learn how to keep your chats and data safe..

We use WhatsApp daily to chat with friends and family, send photos and videos, and share status updates. But have you ever wondered who can see your profile photo, private chats, or status? WhatsApp offers several features that give you greater control over your privacy.

With this Meta-owned messaging app, you can lock private chats, secure the app using your phone's fingerprint or Face ID, and control who sees your profile photo and status. Additionally, the 'View Once' feature allows certain photos and videos to disappear from the chat after being viewed once. If you want to keep your private conversations and information from reaching a wider audience, be sure to check out these five WhatsApp settings.

**Lock Your Private Chats**
If there are specific WhatsApp chats you wish to keep hidden from others, the 'Chat Lock' feature can be very useful. When enabled, locked chats are moved from the main chat list to a separate 'Locked Chats' folder. On Android and iPhone, simply long-press the chat you want to lock or swipe left on it. Then, go to 'More options' and select the 'Lock chat' or 'Unlock chat' option.

You can also lock or unlock chats on WhatsApp Web and Windows by right-clicking on them. The other person is not notified when a chat is locked. The chat closes automatically as soon as you lock your phone. You can even hide the 'Locked Chats' folder entirely by setting a 'Secret Code'.

**Control Who Sees Your Profile Photo**
When you send a message on WhatsApp, the recipient can see your profile photo. If you prefer not to let everyone view your photo, you can adjust your privacy settings. On Android, go to **More options > Settings > Privacy > Profile photo**. On iPhone, navigate to **Settings > Privacy > Profile Photo**.

Here, you can choose who sees your photo: 'Everyone', 'My Contacts', 'My Contacts except...', or 'Nobody'. This allows you to restrict visibility to just your contacts or specific individuals, rather than making your photo visible to everyone. Secure WhatsApp with Face ID or Fingerprint
You can lock the entire WhatsApp app, not just individual chats. When the App Lock feature is enabled, opening the app may require authentication—such as fingerprint, Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode—depending on your phone. This ensures that even if someone else gets hold of your phone, they cannot easily access WhatsApp. However, even with the app locked, you can still reply to messages or calls via notifications.

Send Photos and Videos with the 'View Once' Feature
If you wish to send a private photo, video, or voice message that the recipient cannot view repeatedly, you can use the 'View Once' feature. Media sent using this feature disappears from the chat after being viewed. According to WhatsApp, the recipient cannot save such media to their Photos or Gallery, nor can they take screenshots or screen recordings of it.

Show Your Status to Selected People
WhatsApp Status is typically shared with your contacts, but it isn't necessary to show every update to everyone. You can define your Status audience and choose exactly who can view it. People or groups you mention in your Status can share it with their own audiences. You can even mention individuals whose numbers are not saved in your contact list. Therefore, before posting a Status, make sure to check who you are sharing it with.

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