How do you set up privacy settings on WhatsApp?

When you install WhatsApp, most settings come open to everyone: numbers you don't know can see your profile photo too, anyone who wants to can add you to any group they like, and everyone can track your last seen. Most people use it for years without ever changing these.

Yet the key to all of them is gathered in a single menu: Settings → Privacy. Once you apply the steps below, only the people you want will see you, instead of anyone who reaches your number. None of these settings sends a notification to the other person, so you can change them with peace of mind.

1. Open the Privacy menu On Android, go in through the three dots at the top right, on iPhone through Settings at the bottom right, and find the Privacy section. Everything in this guide is in this one menu.
2. Restrict last seen and online Set 'Last seen and online' to 'My contacts' or 'Nobody'. Remember: if you hide yours, you can't see the other person's last seen either — it's a fair trade.
3. Keep your profile photo for your contacts Set 'Profile photo' to 'My contacts'. That way, someone who isn't in your contacts — for example, a wrong number or accounts that bother you — can't see your photo.
4. Control being added to groups Set 'Groups' to 'My contacts'. Numbers you don't know can't add you to a group directly; they send an invitation first, and joining becomes your choice.
5. Turn off read receipts if you like If the blue ticks bother you, turn off 'Read receipts'. This is mutual too: you won't be able to see who has read your messages either. Played receipts for voice messages are sent regardless.
6. Use disappearing messages in sensitive chats If you turn on disappearing messages in a chat, new messages are deleted automatically once the time you choose runs out. It's good insurance if your phone falls into someone else's hands or someone looks at your screen.
7. Turn on two-step verification Set a PIN under Settings → Account → Two-step verification. This PIN is requested whenever someone tries to move your number to another device; it's the strongest setting for preventing your account from being stolen.

⚠ This guide is general information. Yudum cannot be held responsible for the outcome of following it; for official procedures always rely on the institution's own statement. Steps and fees change over time.

🎯 Related content

How do you port your number (switch operators)? Switching operators without losing your number is possible. The application, the debt check and what to watch out for at the moment of porting. How do you wipe your data before selling your old phone? Resetting to factory settings isn't enough on its own. The right order: sign out of your accounts, encrypt, then reset — otherwise the data can be… What should you check when buying a second-hand phone? A phone that looks cheap will stop getting a signal a few months later if it turns out to be unregistered. Before you buy, do the IMEI, parts and… What should you do if you lose your phone? With a lost phone, the first hours are everything. Instead of panicking, go in the right order: find it, lock it, shut off the line, report it. And… How do you free up storage space on your phone? Does the 'Storage space full' warning refuse to go away no matter what you delete? Go in the right order and gigabytes open up in half an hour — and… How to reduce your screen time on your phone Not with bans but with friction: the most effective way to put the phone down is to make it just a little bit of a hassle. Seven concrete steps that…