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Guides · October 27, 2026

5 settings to change on WhatsApp

WhatsApp holds your conversations, your photos and your contact list. These five settings mainly reduce the risk of account takeover and of being added to scam groups. It takes about three minutes.

0 of 5 done

  1. Settings, Account, Two-step verification. A six-digit PIN will be required if someone tries to take over your account with your phone number.

  2. Settings, Privacy, Groups. Pick “My contacts” so strangers cannot add you to scam groups.

  3. Settings, Privacy. Set your profile photo, About and last seen to “My contacts”.

  4. Settings, Privacy, Advanced: “Protect IP address in calls”. Call quality may drop slightly, but the other person no longer sees your IP address.

  5. Settings, Privacy, App lock: fingerprint or Face ID lock. Even if your phone is unlocked, your messages stay protected.

Guide complete.Your account is better protected. Next guide: Instagram

Going further

  • Run the “Privacy Checkup” that WhatsApp offers.
  • Never share the code you receive by SMS, not even with someone close to you.
  • Menu names vary with your app version.

This guide contains no affiliate links. Menus change between versions: if a name differs, look for the setting in the same place.

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