WhatsApp is rolling out a new Restricted Chat option to selected beta testers on Android and iOS. The setting gives users stronger control over individual conversations by keeping a protected chat off linked devices, disabling chat exports, switching off Meta AI tools inside the thread and stopping media from saving automatically to a phone’s gallery.
The feature is not yet available to every WhatsApp user. WABetaInfo reports that the iOS rollout is reaching some TestFlight users on version 26.39.10.20, following an Android beta rollout associated with version 2.26.39.11. Because availability is controlled from WhatsApp’s servers, installing a compatible beta does not guarantee that the switch will immediately appear.
What Is WhatsApp Restricted Chat?
Restricted Chat is an upgraded form of WhatsApp’s existing Advanced Chat Privacy setting. It works at the conversation level, which means a user chooses a specific one-to-one chat and activates additional limits for that thread. The protection is optional and is turned off by default.
The older Advanced Chat Privacy feature already prevented automatic media saving, blocked exports and limited Meta AI use. WhatsApp’s official Help Center explains those protections and confirms that personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted whether the setting is enabled or not. Restricted Chat adds a major fourth control: the conversation becomes unavailable on linked devices and stays accessible only on the participants’ primary phones.
The Four Restrictions at a Glance
| Privacy Control | Standard Chat | Restricted Chat Beta |
|---|---|---|
| Linked-device access | Available on connected web, desktop and tablet sessions | Blocked; conversation stays on the primary phone |
| Meta AI tools | May be used where supported | Disabled inside the protected conversation |
| Chat export | Transcript export may be available | Complete chat export is blocked |
| Automatic media saving | Controlled by normal app settings | Photos and videos do not auto-save to the gallery |
| End-to-end encryption | Enabled by default | Remains enabled by default |
Why Blocking Linked Devices Matters
WhatsApp’s multi-device system lets people use the same account on a computer, browser, tablet or other supported hardware. That flexibility is useful, but it can create another place where a sensitive conversation appears. A forgotten office browser session or an unattended home computer may expose messages even when the primary phone is secure.
Restricted Chat reduces that risk by removing the selected conversation from secondary devices. Participants must use their main smartphones to read and reply. WABetaInfo says this change is also intended to stop unofficial clients or third-party AI agents from accessing the conversation through a linked-device connection.
This does not mean every linked device is unsafe, and it does not replace good account security. Users should still review connected devices regularly, enable two-step verification and remove sessions they no longer recognize.
How the Meta AI Restriction Works
Restricted Chat turns off Meta AI actions inside the chosen thread. Participants cannot ask the assistant to answer questions about the conversation, create images or produce summaries there. That gives people clearer control when a discussion contains private family, financial or work information.
It is important to understand the official privacy explanation. WhatsApp says Meta AI cannot read ordinary private chats automatically; it can only process messages that users deliberately share with the assistant. The new setting adds a stronger rule by preventing participants from invoking those AI tools inside the restricted conversation at all.
Exporting and Media Saving Are Disabled
WhatsApp normally offers an Export Chat function that can create a transcript for storage or sharing. In a restricted thread, that option is disabled. Blocking a full export makes it harder to copy an entire conversation into email, cloud storage or another application.
Incoming photos and videos also stop saving automatically to the phone’s main gallery. Media remains available inside WhatsApp, but it is less likely to appear unexpectedly in gallery apps, cloud photo backups or shared albums. This is useful for private documents, family images and other sensitive files.
No privacy setting can completely prevent another participant from recording information. Someone may still use another camera, manually repeat details or find other ways to preserve content. Restricted Chat lowers common sharing risks, but users should continue to think carefully about what they send.
Restricted Chat Is Different From Chat Lock
The similar names may confuse users. Chat Lock mainly protects a conversation from someone who is holding the same phone. It hides the thread in a protected folder that requires device authentication or a secret code.
Restricted Chat changes what participants and linked devices can do with the conversation. It does not necessarily hide the thread behind biometric authentication. A person worried about someone opening an unlocked phone may still need Chat Lock, while a person concerned about exports, AI features, gallery saving or desktop access may prefer Restricted Chat. Using both types of protection may make sense when they are available.
How Beta Testers Can Look for the Feature
Eligible testers can open a one-to-one conversation, tap the contact name to reach Chat Info and look for the Restricted Chat setting. WhatsApp presents an explanation of the limits before the toggle is enabled. When someone activates it, a system notice appears so the other participant understands that the chat rules have changed.
- Install an eligible WhatsApp beta through Google Play or Apple TestFlight.
- Open the individual conversation you want to protect.
- Tap the contact’s name to open the Chat Info page.
- Find Restricted Chat and review the listed limitations.
- Turn on the switch and confirm the in-chat notification.
The exact placement or wording can change during testing. Users should avoid downloading unofficial APK files or modified WhatsApp apps to obtain the feature early, because those packages may create security risks or violate WhatsApp’s terms.
Who Can Use It Now?
The rollout is limited. Some Android beta users on version 2.26.39.11 and some iOS TestFlight users on version 26.39.10.20 are receiving the setting, but beta version numbers alone are not enough. Server-side distribution means two people with the same app version may see different options.
Reports indicate that this stage focuses on individual conversations. WhatsApp has not announced a date for a broad stable release, and features tested in beta can be delayed, modified or withdrawn before reaching everyone. Users on the public App Store or Google Play release should wait for an official update rather than assume their app is missing a required control.
What This Means for Everyday Privacy
Restricted Chat addresses a practical privacy problem: a message can remain encrypted in transit but still spread after it reaches a participant’s device. By limiting exports, automatic saving, linked-device visibility and AI tools, WhatsApp is giving users more influence over what happens after delivery.
The feature is not a complete protection against screenshots or deliberate copying. Its value comes from reducing routine and accidental exposure. A private photo is less likely to reach a gallery backup, a conversation cannot be exported with one command, and a forgotten browser session will not display the restricted thread.
The Bottom Line
WhatsApp Restricted Chat is a meaningful expansion of per-conversation privacy, especially for people who use WhatsApp across several devices. Its four rules create a clearer boundary around sensitive discussions while preserving the app’s standard end-to-end encryption.
For now, it remains a limited Android and iOS beta feature with no confirmed public-release schedule. Beta testers should check Chat Info for the new toggle, while everyone else can use Advanced Chat Privacy, Chat Lock, two-step verification and regular linked-device reviews to strengthen account security today.