Earlier this year, WhatsApp rolled out a feature called Chat Lock. That one allows you to lock your chats away behind a passcode or biometric barrier. Well, that wasn’t enough for some of you so now the service has come up with something it calls Secret Code.

“Everyone has secrets” – WhatsApp, 2023

Secret Code is similar to Chat Lock in that it prevents folks from accessing certain chats. The difference is that this code (which should be kept secret, naturally) can also disappear the chats you want to keep secret entirely.

This tricksy bit of the feature only reveals the chats in question when the secret code is typed into the WhatsApp search bar. If you feel that you have nothing to hide but still want to keep prying eyes at bay, concealment can be turned off entirely. In that case, intruders will only have the passcode to contend with.

And contend with it they must, because it looks like WhatsApp is allowing emoji as part of the code string. That’ll make it a touch harder to predict your key. Unless you’re super predictable, of course. The feature rolls out from today and is expected to be globally available over the next few weeks. If you don’t have the option to use it yet, all that’s required is that you wait. Use the time to think up a convincing reason why you need to activate Secret Code in the first place.