How to customize Privacy settings in WhatsApp for iPhone and iPad

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WhatsApp Privacy Settings on iPhone
WhatsApp Privacy Settings on iPhone (Image credit: iMore)

In today's world you can never be too careful with what information about yourself you are making available. On top of the option to block contacts from contacting you in WhatsApp, you also have the ability to manage some privacy settings controlling who sees what. You can change your privacy settings for your last online time, profile photo, status, and read receipts.

How to change your privacy settings for last seen time in WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

If you are in a chat window with a contact of yours, right under their name at the top of the screen it will tell you the last time that contact was active on WhatsApp. If that sounds like gibberish to you, check out the example photo below to see what we are talking about.

Last Seen status on WhatsApp (Image credit: iMore)

This is something that is automatically shown to anyone who is on WhatsApp chatting with you. You have a few options that allow you to modify who can actually see that information.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap on the Privacy button.
  2. Tap on the Last Seen button. This will show you a menu with three options.
    • Everyone (This means anyone on WhatsApp can see it, this is the default setting.)
    • My Contacts (This means only people you have in your contacts)
    • Nobody (This means no one can see this info and you can't see other peoples)

(Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap on the option you desire
  2. Tap on the back button. It's the blue chevron in the top left corner with the word "Privacy" next to it.

Tap on the option you want and then tap on the privacy button. (Image credit: iMore)

Now your new settings will be saved and you can enjoy the level of last-online privacy that you desire.

How to change your privacy settings for your profile picture in WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

Your profile picture is automatically shown to anyone who is on WhatsApp chatting with you. You have a few options that allow you to modify who can actually see your profile photo.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap on the Privacy button.
  2. Tap on the Profile Picture button. This will show you a menu with three options.
    • Everyone (This means anyone on WhatsApp can see it, this is the default setting.)
    • My Contacts (This means only people you have in your contacts)
    • Nobody (This means no one can see this info)

  1. Tap on the option you desire
  2. Tap on the back button. It's the blue chevron in the top left corner with the word "Privacy" next to it.

Tap on the option you want and then tap on the privacy button.

This will save your profile photo privacy setting to wherever you've set it.

How to change your privacy settings for your 'About' in WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

Your 'About' section is similar to your status, its the section that lets you write a little message about yourself that people can see; however, you can change exactly how sees your 'About' section.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Privacy button.
  2. Tap About button. This will show you a menu with three options.
    • Everyone (This means anyone on WhatsApp can see it, this is the default setting.)
    • My Contacts (This means only people you have in your contacts)
    • Nobody (This means no one can see this info)

WhatsApp About settings: Tap Privacy button and then tap about. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap on the option you desire
  2. Tap the back button. It's the blue chevron in the top left corner with the word "Privacy" next to it.

WhatsApp Change About Settings:: Tap on the option you want and then tap the back button. (Image credit: iMore)

How to change your privacy settings for Groups in WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

By default, anyone that has your number can add you to a group chat in WhatsApp; however you can change it to be only or contacts, or only certain contact of yours.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Privacy button.
  2. Tap Groups button. This will show you a menu with three options.
    • Everyone (This means anyone on WhatsApp can see it, this is the default setting.)
    • My Contacts (This means only people you have in your contacts)
    • My Contacts except... (This means you can choose which contacts you don't want)

WhatsApp Group Settings: Tap Privacy (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap on the option you desire
  2. Tap the back button. It's the blue chevron in the top left corner with the word "Privacy" next to it.

Change WhatsApp Groups Privacy Settings: tap the option you want. and then tap the back button. (Image credit: iMore)

How to change your privacy settings for your status in WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

Your status appears under your name in someone's contact list and in your profile, by default anyone can see this, but broadcasting your mood to the world isn't always necessary.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Privacy.
  2. Tap Status. This will show you a menu with three options.
    • Everyone (This means anyone on WhatsApp can see it, this is the default setting.)
    • My Contacts (This means only people you have in your contacts)
    • Nobody (This means no one can see this info)

  1. Tap on the option you desire
  2. Tap the back button. It's the blue chevron in the top left corner with the word "Privacy" next to it.

This will save your status privacy setting to how you've set it, ensuring that only your selected level of clearance knows what's going on with you on WhatsApp.

How to check which chats you're sharing your live location with in WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

You can share your live location through WhatsApp which is useful if you're trying to meet up with friends somewhere, or you're ensuring you don't' get lost somewhere. In the Privacy menu, WhatsApp makes it easy to see all the conversations you are sharing your live location.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Privacy.
  2. Tap **Live Location*.

WhatsApp Live Location Settings: Tap privacy and the tap live location. (Image credit: iMore)

How to turn read receipts on or off in WhatsApp for iPhone

You know those little check marks that tell people when you have read their messages? You can turn them off for your account. Why would you do that? You know that friend, the one that hounds you after having seen the checkmarks on their phone turn blue because you read their message but haven't yet responded? That's why.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Privacy.
  2. Tap the **Read Receipts On/Off Switch". When the switch is green read receipts will be on.

Whatsapp Read Receipts: Tap privacy and then tap the read receipts on/off switch. (Image credit: iMore)

It's important to note that if you turn read receipts off then not only will nobody will see when you have read a message, but it will also disable the display of read receipts on your phone as well — you won't be able to if people have read your messages. It's a two-way street, those read receipts. There is one exception, though: read receipts are always displayed in groups messages, regardless of your settings.

How to use Face ID to unlock WhatsApp on iPhone and iPad

If you want to use Face Id to unlock WhatsApp, you can set it up in the settings.

  1. Launch WhatsApp from your Home screen.
  2. Tap Settings. It's the little gear icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.
  3. Tap Account. It's the blue box with the white key in the middle.

Launch WhatsApp, tap on the setting tab, and then tap on account button. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Tap Privacy.
  2. Tap Screen Lock.
  3. Tap the Require Face ID On/Off Switch. When the switch is green the feature has been enabled.

Screen Lock WhastApp iPhone: tap privacy, tap screen lock, and then tap the require Face ID On/Off Switch. (Image credit: iMore)

Any Questions?

Let us know in the comments down below.

Updated May 2020: Updated for the latest version of WhatsApp.

Luke Filipowicz
Luke Filipowicz

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 


Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.