WhatsApp is rolling out a new Restricted Chat feature that gives users more control over sensitive conversations by keeping selected chats available only on their primary phone.
The feature is an upgraded version of WhatsApp’s existing Advanced Chat Privacy controls. Its biggest addition is the ability to prevent a specific conversation from appearing on linked devices, meaning messages from a restricted chat remain limited to the primary mobile device.
Restricted Chat is currently rolling out to a limited number of beta testers. On Android, the feature is available to some users running WhatsApp beta version 2.26.39.11, while selected iPhone users can access it through WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.39.10.20 via TestFlight.
Users can enable Restricted Chat from the chat information screen. Once activated, WhatsApp applies four privacy restrictions to the conversation. Messages from the restricted chat are no longer available on linked devices, media from the conversation is not automatically saved to the device gallery, the chat cannot be exported, and Meta AI features cannot be used with messages from that conversation.
The linked-device restriction is particularly useful for people who use WhatsApp on computers, tablets or secondary phones but want certain private conversations to remain on their main smartphone. WABetaInfo also notes that the restriction prevents AI agents connected through linked-device channels from accessing messages in the restricted conversation.
For now, Restricted Chat is limited to individual conversations. When enabled, the restrictions apply to everyone participating in that conversation who has a compatible version of WhatsApp.
WhatsApp says its messages and calls remain protected by end-to-end encryption regardless of whether Restricted Chat is enabled. The new feature is therefore an additional privacy control rather than a replacement for WhatsApp’s standard encryption.
Restricted Chat builds on Advanced Chat Privacy, which already allowed users to prevent chat exports, stop automatic media downloads and restrict Meta AI features for individual conversations or groups. WhatsApp is now extending those controls by adding protection against access through linked devices.
The feature remains in beta testing, and WhatsApp has not announced when Restricted Chat will become available to everyone. Its availability may expand to more beta testers before a wider public release.
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