How WhatsApp should allow to protect chats using Touch ID | Concept
The most requested features include Dark Mode, polls in groups, the ability to quickly share a photo as a file to send uncompressed images, call privacy options, and a native Apple Watch app. However, another important feature is clearly the ability to protect chats using Touch ID.
Thanks to iOS 8, developers can use new APIs to add protection features in their apps. Since then, users have been requesting WhatsApp to implement this functionality. Many popular apps already support Touch ID, such as Telegram, 1Password, and PayPal, but it is still unclear why WhatsApp has not introduced it yet. However, I decided to create a concept that shows how this feature could be integrated into WhatsApp for iOS.
HOW TO PROTECT CHATS
In my concept, a new option called Protect chat appears when tapping the More button. This feature would allow users to enable or disable protection for a selected chat, giving them more control over their privacy.
Alternatively, WhatsApp may adds a new side button on the left side of the interface to quickly protect or unprotect a chat.
PROTECTED CHATS
When a chat is protected, it can only be opened after the user verifies their identity using Touch ID. If the verification fails, the user must enter a passcode configured in WhatsApp Settings to access the protected chat. Touch ID functionality would be restored once the iPhone is locked and the passcode is entered on the lock screen, as iOS requires passcode authentication to continue using Touch ID. Once the user successfully verifies their identity in WhatsApp, the chat remains unlocked until the app is closed. Protected chats should be clearly marked so they are easy to recognize, for example with a dedicated icon similar to the pinned indicator. In this concept, protected chats are highlighted with a yellow background color.
However, there are a lot of ways to open a protected chat.
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CHATS LIST
When opening a protected chat from the chat list, WhatsApp should display an alert to request identity verification before granting access.
PEEK ACTION
On iPhone 6S, 7, 8, and X, users can view chat previews using the Peek action. If a protected chat is accessed this way, WhatsApp should immediately block the preview and prevent any content from being shown. The same restriction should apply when attempting to peek messages or view results from chat search. This would ensure that protected content remains fully secured.
MORE BUTTON
The More button opens a sheet that includes the Contact Info option, which could be used to bypass the protection check. This sheet should therefore be fully secured, and it would also help protect actions such as Delete Chat.
CHAT SEARCH
It is possible to open a chat by searching for it using the Search feature. In this case, an alert should appear when the user tries to access a protected chat, requesting fingerprint authentication.
CONTACTS LIST
In the Chats List section, there is an option that opens the contacts list. When selecting a protected contact, WhatsApp should not open the chat immediately, but instead request identity verification via Touch ID.
WHATSAPP WIDGET
Chats can also be opened through the widget. If a protected chat is selected, WhatsApp should request identity verification before opening it.
STARRED MESSAGES
Chats can be opened from the Starred Messages section if a message has been starred. In this case, an additional authentication prompt should appear before allowing access to the full conversation.
If a message is starred, it is considered very important. Therefore, if the Starred Messages section contains content from protected chats, it may also require authentication before access.
HIDDEN RESULTS
When searching for messages, all results from protected chats should be hidden. After authentication, WhatsApp would reveal the results and replace placeholders like “This content is protected” with the original messages.
An alternative approach would be to group these messages into a separate section called Messages in protected chats, accessible only after authentication.
GROUP AND BROADCAST INFO SECTIONS
Users should not be able to access contact options for protected users within Group and Broadcast Info, as this could bypass protection via Contact Info.
MENTIONS IN GROUPS
In group chats, tapping a mentioned user normally opens their chat. This action should also require authentication when the chat is protected.
OFFICIAL WHATSAPP API
The link format [https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=PHONENUMBER](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=PHONENUMBER) (Click to Chat) can be used to open chats directly and is often used on enterprise websites.
This action should also be protected, as it could bypass the security flow.
DELETE/CLEAR ALL CHATS OPTIONS
When selecting these options in Settings > Chats, WhatsApp currently asks for phone number confirmation. A stronger approach would be to use Touch ID authentication instead.
WHATSAPP WEB
When scanning a QR code to start a new WhatsApp Web session, identity verification should be required first. This prevents unauthorized access to chats from a desktop session.
Alternatively, a passcode could be required and securely validated before allowing access to protected chats on WhatsApp Web.
STORAGE USAGE
Accessing the Storage Usage section to clear a protected chat should require authentication if at least one protected chat exists.
PROTECTED STATUSES
Viewing a status from a protected chat should require authentication before it can be displayed.
NOTIFICATIONS AND MESSAGE PREVIEW
When receiving messages from protected chats, push notification previews should be hidden. An optional setting such as Hide Preview for Protected Chats could allow users to control this behavior.
Tapping a notification should prompt authentication before opening the chat.
Once unlocked, the chat may remain accessible until the app is closed, depending on user settings.
FORWARDING MESSAGES
When forwarding a message, WhatsApp should avoid automatically opening protected chats to prevent bypassing the security flow.
RECENT CALLS
The Contact Info option in Recent Calls should also be restricted for protected contacts, following the same rules as the widget protection system.
CONCLUSIONS:
This concept took four days to design, showing how such a feature could be implemented in a structured way. Of course, this is only a proposal, while WhatsApp has a full development team that could implement it in an even better way.
The same concept could also be extended to Face ID on iPhone X. If you would like to see chat protection in WhatsApp, you can send feedback to [support@whatsapp.com](mailto:support@whatsapp.com).
Note that this is only a concept and it is not a hidden feature.
Other posts you might like to read:
- WhatsApp to improve the user experience in groups.
- First verified business accounts are appearing on WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp is testing additional image compression options.
- WhatsApp to support stickers similar to Instagram.
- WhatsApp will support YouTube inside the app.
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