WhatsApp’s secret ‘code texts’ and iPhone’s invisible messages – three ways to hide your chats from nosy snoopers

DON’T let the snoopers win: there are easy ways to hide your text chats from prying eyes.

If you’re using popular services like WhatsApp or iMessage, keeping your texts hidden is very easy.

The Sun has rounded up three tricks that you need to try today.

WHATSAPP’S SECRET CODE TEXTS

WhatsApp has a special feature called Secret Code that lets you hide away your chats.

It’s an evolution of the existing Chat Lock feature that helps you protect your “more sensitive conversations”, according to the Meta-owned app.

With Secret Codes, it makes it even harder to find your locked chats.

It’s the perfect solution for when someone else has access to your phone.

Normally when you protect a conversation, it’ll be tucked away in your Locked Chats folder.

This can only be unlocked if you verify your identity.

But you can also set a secret code that for that Locked Chats folder.

Locked Chats will only appear if you type your secret code into the search bar.

First, choose a chat to lock, then open it, tap on the chat’s name, and hit Lock.

You’ll find this Locked Chats folder by pulling down on your main chats page.

Now go into the Locked Chats folder and tap on Settings > Hide Locked Chats.

If you choose to activate that feature, you’ll be prompted to create a Secret Code.

You can use capitalised or lower-case letters, numbers, symbols, and emojis – just make sure you can remember what you choose.

Follow the prompts to complete the creation of your Secret Code and then you’re ready to go.

The only way to find Locked Chats from now on will be to enter your secret code into the search bar.

Remember: you can change your Secret Code at any time.

APP LOCKER!

If you want to go one step further, you can lock and hide apps themselves.

This means that snoopers won’t even be able to see the app in question, let alone open it.

If you’ve got an iPhone, you’ll need iOS 18 or later – just go to Settings > General > Software Update.

“If you want to show someone something on your iPhone but want peace of mind that they can’t get into certain apps, you can lock or hide the apps,” Apple explains.

To lock an app, find it on your Home Screen, touch and hold it, then choose Require Face ID.

Then choose Hide and Require Face ID to hide it as well as locking it.

The app will move to the Hidden Folder at the bottom of your App Library, which is on the far-right panel of your Home Screen.

You can’t see into the Hidden Folder unless you unlock it using Face ID.

The process on Android phones ins similar.

Just go to Settings > Privacy > Hide Apps, and then choose the apps that you’d like to keep locked and hidden.

They’ll be moved to a Secure Folder that can’t be access unless you authenticate yourself.

IPHONE’S INVISIBLE MESSAGES

Apple fans have one more text-hiding trick that is built into the iPhone as standard.

It’s called Invisible Ink, and it conceals the contents of texts as they appear on your chat window – only appearing when you tap on them.

This is very handy for two reasons.

The first is that it can help to hide messages from anyone standing nearby, potentially reading over your shoulder.

And secondly, it’s a great way to discuss movie or TV show spoilers in a group chat without ruining it for everyone.

That’s because people have to manually tap on the Invisible Ink text to reveal its message.

To send an Invisible Ink text, go into the Messages app on your iPhone and tap out some words to a contact.

Then instead of tapping the blue Send arrow, press and hold on it instead.

Choose the Bubble panel at the top of the screen, then select Invisible Ink from the options on the right.

Now hit Send and your text will be delivered with the words hidden.

The recipient will have to tap on the message to temporarily reveal what it says – and then after a few seconds, it will be hidden again.

There’s no limit to how many Invisible Ink texts you can send, so use them whenever you’re looking for a bit of extra privacy.