WhatsApp is testing a privacy boost: This is the option you will need to activate if you want your chats to be more secure

As WhatsApp continues expanding its AI capabilities and refining its status features, one of the app’s most significant updates focuses squarely on user privacy. With over two billion active users globally, the messaging giant is now introducing a powerful tool to give you greater control over how your chats are managed and protected.

Advanced privacy setting adds more security to your chats

WhatsApp has begun testing a new “advanced privacy” setting that brings a deeper level of security to individual and group conversations. Available in the latest beta version (2.25.10.14 for Android), this feature allows users to prevent others from saving media files to their device’s gallery directly from the chat settings. Unlike the current option that appears when deleting a chat, this update works without erasing the messages.

Another significant benefit of this feature is the ability to block the export of entire chat histories, a move designed to avoid misuse of sensitive conversations. In addition, Meta AI will also be restricted from group or personal chats, ensuring no unwanted AI interaction in private spaces.

How to activate it and what to expect next

To enable this setting, you’ll need to access the contact info section from within a chat, then select the new privacy options from there. Notably, the setting applies both to your own device and to the other party involved, making conversations mutually protected.

While still in early testing, this update shows WhatsApp’s renewed commitment to privacy, a domain it had left behind in recent updates. There’s no word yet on features like screenshot blocking, but this move marks an important shift toward more robust user control.