FHN 
WhatsApp is working on a new privacy feature called Restricted Chat that could give users more control over where sensitive conversations are available.
The feature is designed to keep selected chats on the user’s main phone instead of syncing them to WhatsApp Web, desktop apps, or other phones connected to the same account.
Restricted Chat was spotted in WhatsApp Android beta version 2.26.36.5, but it is still being developed and has not been released for beta testing yet.
WhatsApp has also not confirmed when the feature will become available to the public.
Restricted Chat Limits Access on Linked Devices
The new option appears to build on WhatsApp’s existing Advanced Chat Privacy controls. Rather than applying stronger restrictions to an entire account, users would be able to select individual conversations that need additional protection.
Once enabled, a restricted conversation is expected to remain available only on the primary phone.
It would not be synchronized with:
- WhatsApp Web
- WhatsApp desktop applications
- Secondary phones
- Other linked devices
This could be useful when users regularly connect their WhatsApp account to computers, tablets, or additional phones.
For example, a confidential conversation could remain on a person’s main smartphone while normal chats continue to work across their other connected devices.
The approach could also reduce the risk of sensitive messages being exposed through an unattended computer, shared workstation, or unknown linked session.
Useful for Sensitive Conversations
Restricted Chat could be particularly helpful for people handling confidential information, including:
- Business executives
- Journalists
- Security and incident response teams
- Legal professionals
- Activists
- Organizations handling sensitive customer or business data
The feature is also expected to retain several protections associated with Advanced Chat Privacy. These may include preventing chat exports, stopping media from automatically appearing in the device gallery, and restricting the use of messages with Meta AI.
However, Restricted Chat will not completely prevent information from being shared. Someone participating in the conversation could still manually copy information, photograph a screen, or share messages outside WhatsApp.
The feature is therefore better viewed as an additional access-control layer rather than a complete solution against data leaks.
For now, Restricted Chat remains under development on Android. Installing the identified beta version does not activate the feature, and WhatsApp has not provided a confirmed release date.
Until it becomes available, users should regularly review their Linked Devices and remove any sessions they do not recognize.
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