WhatsApp is testing a powerful new privacy feature designed to give users greater control over their conversations — especially when it comes to restricting how content is saved and shared outside the app.
Currently available in the beta version for iOS and Android, the feature introduces an “advanced chat privacy” setting. It allows users to apply stricter privacy controls to individual or group chats, limiting who can save shared media and whether a conversation can be exported at all.
One of the key elements of the new feature is the ability to block media auto-saving. When enabled, photos and videos received in a protected chat will not be automatically saved to the recipient’s device gallery — a valuable option for those who want to prevent personal content from being stored or redistributed.
In addition, chat export will be disabled. This means users will no longer be able to back up or share entire chat histories via email or third-party services. It’s a significant move toward preventing leaks of sensitive conversations.
The feature also applies to group chats. If a user activates the setting, all participants are notified automatically, ensuring transparency about the increased level of privacy. Importantly, the new privacy mode also disables interactions with Meta AI, the company’s built-in artificial intelligence assistant, within that specific chat.
While this privacy upgrade helps prevent automatic sharing and storage, it doesn’t currently stop users from taking screenshots or forwarding individual messages. For even more control, WhatsApp still recommends using disappearing messages or view-once media.
Though the feature is not yet available to the public, Meta is expected to roll it out widely later this year as part of its ongoing effort to strengthen user privacy and compete more directly with rivals like Telegram.
