One of the most popular messaging apps worldwide is WhatsApp, and as a result, users feel the need for more privacy control. The “Last Seen” timestamp, which indicates when you were last active on the app, is a feature that many users wish to control.
WhatsApp lets you conceal your last seen from everyone or just certain individuals, which is useful if you want to keep limits, prevent distractions, or just want more privacy. This tutorial will show you how to hide your last seen status on Android and iPhone versions of WhatsApp.
What Is “Last Seen” on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp’s “Last Seen” feature displays the precise moment a user last launched the app. Everyone in your contact list may see it by default, and it shows up in the chat window beneath a contact’s name.
Why to Hide Your Last Seen on WhatsApp?
For the following reasons, users prefer to keep their last saw status hidden on WhatsApp:
- Preserve individual privacy
- Steer clear of social pressure to react right away.
- Stop contacts from monitoring your habits of activity.
- Reduce outside distractions while things are busy.
How to Hide Last Seen on WhatsApp (iPhone and Android)
Both Android and iPhone follow a similar procedure. Here’s how to accomplish it:
Step 1: On your Android or iPhone, launch WhatsApp.
Step 2: In the lower-right corner, tap the Settings icon (iPhone) or the three-dot menu (Android).
Step 3: Go to Privacy.
Step 4: Press the “Last Seen & Online” button.
Step 5: Here, you’ll notice two primary settings:
- Who Can See My Last Seen:
- Everyone: Your last seen is visible to all WhatsApp users.
- My Contacts: It is only visible to the contacts you have saved.
- My Contacts Except…: Decide which individuals to exclude.
- Nobody: Keeps everyone in the dark about your last sighting.
- Who Can See When I’m Online:
Additionally, you have control over who can see whether you’re online at any given time.
- Everyone
- Same as Last Seen (recommended for consistent privacy)
- After selecting the best settings, close the window.
The changes will be applied immediately by WhatsApp.
Things to Remember Regarding WhatsApp Last Seen
- You won’t be able to see someone else’s last seen if you hide your own.
- Unless specifically changed, typing and online status might still be visible.
- Under Privacy Settings, there are separate sections for managing the privacy of status updates and profile photos.
Additional Tips for Enhancing Privacy on WhatsApp
- Disable Read Receipts: To keep people from knowing when you’ve viewed their messages, disable read receipts.
- Manage Who Can View Your Profile Picture: Hide it from certain users or restrict it to contacts.
- Employ Messages That Disappear: Delete texts automatically after a predetermined amount of time.
- Two Step Verification: Turn on two-step verification to strengthen account security.
Conclusion
One easy yet effective technique to manage your privacy on WhatsApp is to hide your last seen status. WhatsApp allows you to adjust these settings to your liking, whether you desire more privacy or simply don’t want to share your activities with the world.
Remember that upholding digital boundaries is equally as crucial as upholding physical ones, and keep your app updated frequently to take advantage of the newest privacy features.