make sure that others do not secretly read your apps

WhatsApp messages are private. It is therefore only logical that you want to ensure that others cannot read your apps. We explain how you can do that in three steps: by hiding your pop-up notifications, locking the WhatsApp app and pinning your phone’s screen.

1. Hide WhatsApp notifications

It could have happened very quickly. You are on the train where people are sitting close together and before you know it a WhatsApp notification appears on your screen. The content of the message is then visible to anyone who happens to – or less accidentally – looks at your smartphone screen.

We explain how you can disable these pop-up notifications, so that you read notifications at a time that you feel comfortable with.

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Press it at the top menu with the three dots
3. Choose Settings
4. Tap on notifications
5. Sets High priority notifications from
6. You will still receive notifications now, but they will no longer appear with some of the content on the screen

2. Lock WhatsApp

Sometimes it can happen that you leave your phone lying around or that someone else is allowed to use it for a short time. Then protect your privacy by locking access to WhatsApp. That way someone can only open the app with your fingerprint. It is not even enough to know your PIN code. This is how you set it up.

1. First check whether a fingerprint has been set up on your phone via Settings -> Security -> Fingerprint Unlock
2. Open WhatsApp
3. Press it at the top menu with the three dots
4. Choose Settings
5. Tap on Privacy
6. Select Fingerprint lock
7. Turn on the switch next to Unlock with fingerprint
8. Confirm with your fingerprint
9. Choose the time after which the lock will be activated: Immediately, After 1 minute or After 30 seconds
10. Set the option if necessary Show content of notifications from. This disables the preview of all types of notifications, not just the pop-up notifications that appear

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3. Share your phone securely

There are many reasons why you temporarily give your phone to a friend, colleague or family member. So do so in a safe way. Android has a handy built-in function that is especially useful for situations where you share your phone with someone else.

You can pin the screen for that person at such times, so that they can only use the app that was open when you handed over your phone. This way he can’t open WhatsApp and so you don’t have to lock your messaging app. It is still possible for messages to appear in a pop-up, so always check the other tips in this article.

Below we explain how to use App pinning. You can find more information about this feature in this article.

1. Go to Settings
2. Choose Security
3. Press More security settings
4. Tap on Pin app and turn on the switch. You can also search for “App pin” from the settings search bar
5. Open Recent apps on your phone
6. All your open apps will appear. At the top of Recent apps, tap the icon of the app you want to pin for someone else
7. Choose Pin
8. Information appears on the screen that shows you how to exit the screen. Choose I get it
   
9. To unpin the app afterwards, swipe up on the screen, hold and confirm with your fingerprint or PIN

There are of course more ways to protect your privacy on WhatsApp or secure your account. Take a look at the articles below or at this large overview of WhatsApp tips.

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