In an effort to strengthen user privacy, WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called "Secret Code". This core enhancement aims to provide an extra layer of security for locked conversations, allowing users to protect sensitive exchanges with a personal password separate from their device unlock code.

WhatsApp initially introduced Locked Chat earlier this year, enabling users to hide specific conversations. With the introduction of secret codes, these locked chats can now be protected with a separate password, which includes letters, numbers, special characters and emojis. Unlike the traditional method of displaying all blocked chats in a fixed folder, users can choose to hide this folder from plain view.

The key feature of the secret code is its ability to make the locked chats folder completely invisible to anyone accessing the user's phone. Users can expose their saved conversations by typing the secret code into the search bar, preventing unintended discoveries by eye.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared the news on his WhatsApp channel, saying that you can now set your locked chats to be revealed only when you type a secret code in the search bar, so no one can access your chats. Most private conversations will not be 'unintentionally' discovered.

In particular, adopting a secret code is optional, allowing users to choose whether they want their blocked chats to appear traditionally in the chat list. This move is in line with WhatsApp's commitment to providing users with choices that suit their individual preferences and privacy needs.

The rollout of secret codes has started recently and is expected to be available globally in the coming months. This is a major milestone for WhatsApp, fulfilling the promise made by Meta six months ago when they introduced the chat lock feature, hinting at the possibility of custom passwords for better security.