WhatsApp’s chat lock feature is great for privacy, but it can sometimes make chats hard to find or access. If you’re struggling to access locked chats, here are all the ways to access them.
Access Locked Chats on WhatsApp
If it’s your first time locking a chat, it might be a bit difficult to find them if you don’t already know since they aren’t immediately available in the list of chats. Here’s how to access them:
On both Android and iOS mobile apps, the locked chats are at the top of all chats, but hidden from view when you first open the Chats section. To access them, you’ll have to swipe down while you are at the top of the Chats section. This will reveal a Locked chats button that you can tap to access locked chats.
If you are using the WhatsApp web interface, the Locked chats button is revealed by default. However, you can’t access the chats without the secret code. You’ll have to create a secret code on the mobile app first to unlock it.
On the phone, open the locked chats, tap on the menu at the top-right corner, and select chat lock settings. Tap on the Secret code option and provide a code to set it up.
Once set up, you can click on Locked chats on WhatsApp Web and provide the new code to access the chats.
Access Locked Chats When They Are Hidden
WhatsApp also offers the option to hide locked chats so they aren’t accessible from the Chats section. If you have hidden the chats, they are accessible using the same method on both mobile apps and WhatsApp web. Here’s how:
To hide chats, you must have made the secret code since it’s not possible to hide them without the code. Enter that code in the search bar at the top and the Locked chats button will show up.
Unlock Chats Without Losing Chats if You Forget the Secret Code
If you have forgotten the secret code and the phone biometric verification method is disabled as well, then you still have a few options to get back your chats. Fortunately, you can use the biometric verification method even if it was added later. Just create a new fingerprint unlock method in your phone’s security settings and it can be used for unlocking WhatsApp chats.
Once inside, you can reset the secret code by going to Chat lock settings -> Secret code -> Turn off.
If you are unable to add the fingerprint unlock method for some reason, you’ll have to back up the chats and reset the secret code. Here’s how:
Back up and Clear Locked Chats
WhatsApp lets you unlock chats and reset the secret code, it will delete all the previous messages and media in the process. While this process will clear all your locked chats, they are still recoverable using the chat backup feature.
Note: steps to back up chat and unlock locked chats can only be performed on the WhatsApp Android and iOS apps. The steps are the same for both operating systems.
To back up WhatsApp chats, go to WhatsApp Settings from the top-right menu. Here go to Chats -> chat backup and tap on the Back up button to back up both locked and unlocked chats.
Afterward, go to Privacy -> chat lock in the WhatsApp Settings and tap on Unlock and clear locked chats. After confirmation, all the locked chats will unlock and the secret code will be removed.
To restore from the backup, you’ll have to uninstall the WhatsApp app and reinstall it. During the setup process, it will ask you to restore the chats. However, act quickly as you won’t be able to restore chats if an automatic backup is created after clearing the chats.
What to Do If the Secret Code and Device Unlock Method Stops Working
In rare cases, WhatsApp may stop accepting both the secret code and biometric verification for authentication (usually happens after reinstalling). Resetting the chats would be a bit too extreme in this case. Instead, try the following methods:
While authentication may not work using the regular methods, it may still work when accessed from outside WhatsApp. On Android, you can directly access a Whatsapp contact from the Contacts app. Here’s what to do:
In the Contacts app, search and open a contact who has the chat locked in WhatsApp.
Under Connected apps, open WhatsApp and tap on Message. The chat will open in WhatsApp and you’ll be prompted to unlock it using the secret code or fingerprint scan.
Receive Message From a Locked Contact
Messages from locked chats still show a notification. Authentication may work if you open the locked chat using the message notification. Using any other communication method, ask one of the locked contacts to send you a message on WhatsApp. If a group chat is locked, then someone can tag you as well.
When you receive the message, tap on the notification and it will prompt you to authenticate it. Once inside, reset the secret code like we did above and it should start working.
These methods should help you access your locked chats again. Even if nothing is working, you always have the option to reset chats and restore them from backup. If you think it’s a technical problem, you can also try these methods to fix WhatsApp when it’s not working.
Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Karrar Haider.
