• WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature called Chat Lock, that adds a biometric layer of security to specific conversations in the app.
• The feature also automatically hides the contents of the chat in notifications.
• The platform plans to add more elements to Chat Lock in the coming months, such as locking companion devices and creating custom passwords.

There is a new feature rolling out to WhatsApp users called Chat Lock. As the name suggests, it allows users to lock specific chats to add an additional layer of security on top of the end-to-end encryption that is already available.

Chat Lock uses biometrics in order to function, so you can select a specific conversation you wish to lock, and your fingerprint is needed in order to access said conversation in the app. WhatsApp explains that the content of chats that have been chat locked will also be hidden in notifications.

“We think this feature will be great for people who have reason to share their phones from time to time with a family member or those moments where someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra special chat arrives,” the platform said in a blog post.

“You can lock a chat by tapping the name of a one-to-one or group and selecting the lock option. To reveal these chats, slowly pull down on your inbox and enter your phone password or biometric,” it added.

While this new feature is rolling out globally starting today, there are more elements set to be added to it down the line, according to WhatsApp.

“Over the next few months we’re going to be adding more options for Chat Lock, including locking for companion devices and creating a custom password for your chats so that you can use a unique password different from the one you use for your phone,” the platform concluded.