After announcing a screen lock feature in development for WhatsApp Desktop beta last year, we can finally announce that it’s now available to a limited group of users that joined the beta program of WhatsApp Web beta.
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Screen lock |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp Web 2.2333.11 beta is marked as a compatible update. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it’s rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Sc, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp news of the week: multi-account and passkey feature for account verification! |
SCREEN LOCK
Last year, we shared an article regarding the screen lock option, a feature for WhatsApp Desktop beta. With this feature, it would have been possible to protect the app from unauthorized access with a password. When we announced this feature, it was under development so it was not ready for beta testers. However, after a long time of testing, WhatsApp is now releasing this feature to some beta testers that use the latest version of WhatsApp Web and joined the official beta program!
As you can see in this screenshot, WhatsApp Web is locked thanks to the screen lock feature, and it asks for a password to view the list of your conversations. To discover if this feature is enabled for your WhatsApp account, just open WhatsApp Settings > Privacy. In case the feature is available to your account, you should see a screen lock entry point here. When enabled, you will have to enter a password to unlock WhatsApp Web. In this screen, it’s also possible to configure this feature by choosing when the user should be prompted with the password. If you forget the password, you need to log out of WhatsApp Web and log into again by scanning the QR code.
Using the screen lock feature on WhatsApp Web offers an advantage in terms of privacy. When you enable this feature, it ensures that even if someone gains access to your computer while you’re away, they won’t be able to access your WhatsApp chats and messages without entering the password. In addition, push notifications will not appear when the screen is locked. In our opinion, this definitely helps users maintain the confidentiality of their conversations by enhancing privacy and prevents unauthorized users from viewing their personal information.
The screen lock feature is available to some users that use the latest version of WhatsApp Web beta, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.
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