WhatsApp lets you lock app with your fingerprint or face – how to do it now
WHATSAPP has finally added a Fingerprint Lock to the app on Android phones.
It means you can shut out snoopers from your WhatsApp by hiding the app behind a fingerprint scanner.
WhatsApp already added this feature to iOS earlier in the year, but it’s finally available on Android now too.
It’s supposed to give you peace of mind when you hand your phone to someone else.
They can look at whatever you want them to, safe in the knowledge that they can’t access your WhatsApp messages.
It’s also great if you don’t want the faff of a general phone lock, but want to make sure your messages stay private.
And it gives you a second layer of security, in case anyone knows your phone’s written access code.
How to enable Fingerprint Lock for Android
First, make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of WhatsApp on your Android phone.
If you’re not sure how to do this, open the Google Play Store and locate WhatsApp – and download any available updates.
Then follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and tap Settings
- Then go into Account and then Privacy
- You’ll then see an option for Fingerprint Lock – tap it
- Turn on Unlock With Fingerprint and confirm your fingerprint
- Then choose a length of time for automatic locking to take place
If the feature ever annoys you, it’s possible to turn it off by following the above steps again.
How to enable Fingerprint Lock for iOS
Of course, Fingerprint Lock has been available on iPhones for a while.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open WhatsApp then go to Settings
- Next tap Account and then tap Privacy
- At the bottom, choose Screen Lock
- You can then choose to unlock WhatsApp with Touch ID or Face ID, depending on your iPhone
- Choose an amount of time for Screen Lock to be required
- Then the next time you open your app, you’ll be prompted to unlock it
Remember that you can turn this feature off at any time.
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What new features would you like to see added to WhatsApp? Let us know in the comments!
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