WhatsApp is rolling out the Restricted Chat feature on iOS beta
WhatsApp is introducing an important upgrade for the advanced chat privacy feature. The functionality lets users control how people can interact with their conversations. WhatsApp is also adding a new restriction that makes specific chats unavailable on linked devices.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Feature: | Restricted Chat on iOS |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Compatibility: | WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.39.10.20 is a compatible update. |
| Availability info: | This feature is available to some beta testers on TestFlight. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp is rolling out restricted chats on Android beta! |
WhatsApp rolled out Restricted Chat on Android
In the post about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.39.11 update, we announced the ability to restrict chats. The feature is an upgraded version of advanced chat privacy, and it adds a fourth restriction that the previous feature never had. Now, the feature limits specific chats to the primary mobile device only. This cuts off access from linked devices and AI agents that connect through linked device channels.
WhatsApp is now rolling out the same feature for iPhone
WhatsApp is not limiting restricted chats to the Android app. Today, WhatsApp is also bringing the same feature to the iOS app. This means that users can now restrict their chats regardless of which platform they use. We discovered the feature with the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.39.10.20 update, which is available on TestFlight. With this update, WhatsApp is rolling out the Restricted Chat feature to a limited number of beta testers.
How to enable Restricted Chat on iPhone
Users can restrict their conversations directly from the chat info screen. Here, WhatsApp is replacing the advanced chat privacy feature with "Restricted Chat". When users open the new screen, WhatsApp makes it easier to understand which restrictions the app applies before enabling the feature. Once users activate the toggle, WhatsApp applies four restrictions for everyone in the conversation who installs the latest version of WhatsApp. At the moment, it seems that the feature is only available to individual chats.
The four restrictions that Restricted Chat enables
With restricted chats, WhatsApp applies the same four restrictions as it does on the Android app. In particular, it is not possible to save media from the chat to the device gallery automatically. Users cannot export the conversation and use Meta AI features in the chat. Restricted chats add another layer of protection by preventing anyone in the conversation from accessing it through linked devices. This means that the conversation is not available on linked devices, and any AI agent added by other people cannot read the messages in the chat.
WhatsApp keeps E2E encryption active regardless of Restricted Chat
Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted, regardless of whether the feature is active or not. WhatsApp makes this explicit on the Restricted chat screen with a privacy promise. Whether or not the restrictions are active, messages and calls in the chat are always protected with end-to-end encryption. Only the people in the conversation can read or hear them. Restricted Chat is a new layer of control, and the encryption that protects conversation is always active whether users enable it or not.
Users decide which conversations to restrict
The advanced chat privacy feature was optional, so users could enable it only when they needed this protection. With restricted chats, nothing changes: the feature is still optional, so it is up to the user to enable it. Since not every conversation needs these restrictions, WhatsApp is still making the feature optional. Everything else on WhatsApp continues to work normally, and users can enable the feature only where they want.
WhatsApp is rolling out Restricted Chat to iPhone beta testers
The feature is available to some users who install the latest update from TestFlight. Since WhatsApp is gradually rolling it out, some users may have to wait a little longer before they can enable the feature. If the Restricted chat option does not appear yet in the chat info screen, it will become available in a future update. WhatsApp has not shared when it plans to bring it to the stable version.
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