WhatsApp Restricted Chats are beginning to roll out to some Android beta testers, introducing a new way to limit what can be done with messages and media inside selected conversations. The feature is part of WhatsApp’s latest privacy-focused development and is currently available to some users running WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.39.11.
The new WhatsApp Restricted Chats feature replaces the earlier Advanced Chat Privacy name and adds an important restriction that was not part of the previous implementation: restricted conversations can no longer be accessed through linked devices. WhatsApp is gradually expanding the feature to more beta testers, while a stable release date has not yet been announced.
What Are WhatsApp Restricted Chats?
WhatsApp Restricted Chats are designed to give users additional control over specific conversations. Rather than changing WhatsApp’s standard encryption system, the feature adds optional restrictions to individual chats.WhatsApp already protects personal messages and calls with end-to-end encryption by default. Restricted Chats provide an additional layer of control over how content in a selected conversation can be handled.
The feature was previously being developed under the name Advanced Chat Privacy. WhatsApp is now using the Restricted Chat name to make the purpose of the feature clearer. According to WhatsApp’s existing documentation for Advanced Chat Privacy, the privacy controls can prevent media from being automatically saved to a device gallery, stop users from exporting a chat and restrict the use of Meta AI features within the conversation. The latest development expands those controls by also limiting the conversation to the primary device.
WhatsApp Restricted Chats Add Primary-Device-Only Access
One of the most important changes in the latest WhatsApp Android beta is the restriction on linked devices. When a conversation is restricted, participants can no longer access that particular chat through WhatsApp Web, desktop or other linked devices. Messages in the restricted conversation remain available through the primary phone.
This is different from WhatsApp’s normal multi-device experience, where users can connect their account to additional supported devices. The new restriction therefore gives users more control over where a sensitive conversation can be accessed.
What Happens When You Restrict a WhatsApp Chat?
Once Restricted Chat is enabled, WhatsApp applies several limitations to the conversation.
The current beta implementation includes:
- Media from the restricted conversation is not automatically saved to the device gallery.
- Users cannot export the restricted chat.
- Meta AI features cannot be used within the restricted conversation.
- The conversation cannot be accessed through linked devices.
- The restriction applies to everyone participating in the conversation.
WhatsApp currently appears to be testing the feature for individual chats, meaning the latest beta implementation is not yet available across every type of conversation. The exact behavior may change as WhatsApp continues testing the feature.
How to Enable WhatsApp Restricted Chats on Android
For beta testers who have received the feature, WhatsApp Restricted Chats can be enabled from the chat information screen. The option is disabled by default, so users need to manually activate it for a conversation.
The current testing process can be summarized as:
- Open the WhatsApp conversation you want to restrict.
- Open the chat information screen.
- Look for the Restricted Chat option.
- Enable the feature.
- WhatsApp applies the restrictions to the conversation.
Because the feature is being rolled out gradually, not every Android beta tester will see the option immediately. Some users may still see the older Advanced Chat Privacy setting instead.
Why Is WhatsApp Blocking Restricted Chats on Linked Devices?
The linked-device restriction is arguably the biggest change introduced with WhatsApp Restricted Chats. WhatsApp allows users to connect their accounts to multiple devices for convenience. However, a restricted conversation is treated differently because the new feature is specifically intended to give users more control over how selected chats are accessed and shared.
Keeping a restricted conversation on the primary phone removes access through connected devices for that particular chat. This could be particularly relevant for conversations containing sensitive personal information, private discussions or content that users do not want automatically available across their connected devices. The feature does not mean that ordinary WhatsApp chats are insecure. WhatsApp says personal messages and calls remain protected by end-to-end encryption by default.
WhatsApp Restricted Chats Also Limit Meta AI
Another important part of the feature is its relationship with Meta AI. When a chat is restricted, Meta AI features cannot be used within that conversation. This is consistent with WhatsApp’s existing Advanced Chat Privacy controls, which prevent users from asking Meta AI questions about messages in a protected conversation or using certain AI functions involving that chat.
The change is notable because Meta has been expanding AI functionality across WhatsApp and other products. Restricted Chats provide users with an option to keep selected conversations outside those AI-related interactions. WhatsApp has also stated that Meta AI cannot independently read users’ private chats and can only process messages that people specifically choose to send to it.
WhatsApp Restricted Chats vs Advanced Chat Privacy
The new feature is closely related to the existing Advanced Chat Privacy system. The main difference is that WhatsApp is changing both the name and the capabilities of the feature.
| Feature | Advanced Chat Privacy | Restricted Chats |
|---|---|---|
| Prevent automatic media saving | Yes | Yes |
| Prevent chat export | Yes | Yes |
| Restrict Meta AI features | Yes | Yes |
| Linked-device access | Previously available | Restricted |
| Primary-device-only conversation | No | Yes |
| Current Android testing | Earlier development | Beta rollout |
The most significant addition is therefore primary-device-only access. WhatsApp is still developing the feature, so additional changes are possible before a wider release.
Is WhatsApp Restricted Chats Available to Everyone?
No. WhatsApp Restricted Chats are currently being rolled out to some Android beta testers, rather than being available to every WhatsApp user. The feature has been identified in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.39.11, but availability is being expanded gradually.
That means installing the latest beta does not necessarily guarantee that the feature will immediately appear on an account. Users who still see Advanced Chat Privacy instead of Restricted Chat may simply not have received the latest server-side rollout yet.
When Will WhatsApp Restricted Chats Be Released for Everyone?
WhatsApp has not announced a confirmed date for the stable release of Restricted Chats. The current implementation is still being tested, and WhatsApp can change the feature’s design, availability or functionality based on beta testing.
For that reason, Android users should treat the current version as a development feature rather than a final public release. A wider rollout could happen after additional testing, but there is currently no confirmed public release schedule.
What Does the New WhatsApp Privacy Feature Mean for Users?
The introduction of WhatsApp Restricted Chats shows that WhatsApp is continuing to give users more control over individual conversations. Instead of applying the same privacy behavior to every chat, users can selectively restrict specific conversations when they want additional limitations. The primary-device-only approach is particularly notable because WhatsApp’s linked-device system is normally designed around convenience and access across multiple devices.
Restricted Chats introduce a different priority for selected conversations: keeping those messages limited to the main phone. At the same time, the feature should not be confused with WhatsApp’s basic security system. End-to-end encryption remains the default protection for personal messages and calls.
WhatsApp Continues Expanding Privacy and AI Controls
The development of Restricted Chats comes as WhatsApp continues to introduce new privacy and security controls while expanding Meta AI across the platform. In August 2026, Meta also announced additional WhatsApp account-security features, including stronger two-step verification and more information about calls from unknown numbers. The company also said that more than one billion people had set up passkeys on WhatsApp.
These developments show how WhatsApp is working on both account-level security and more specific controls for individual conversations. Restricted Chats fit into that broader direction by giving users another optional way to control how selected conversations behave.
WhatsApp Restricted Chats: What to Expect Next
WhatsApp Restricted Chats are currently one of the platform’s notable privacy developments on Android. The feature replaces Advanced Chat Privacy and adds a new primary-device-only restriction for selected conversations. For beta testers who receive the feature, restricted conversations cannot be accessed through linked devices, exported or used with Meta AI features, while media is also prevented from being automatically saved to the device gallery.
The feature remains in beta testing, so its final design and availability could change before a wider rollout. For now, Android users will need to wait for WhatsApp to expand the feature to additional beta accounts and eventually announce a stable release. As WhatsApp continues testing Restricted Chats, the feature could become a useful option for users who want greater control over how specific conversations are accessed, shared and handled across the app.
[…] WhatsApp Android beta has revealed another potential design change, and this time, it could affect the part of the app millions of people use every day: the chat bar. WhatsApp is developing two new chat bar layouts for Android, experimenting with how users access the message field, emoji button, attachments, camera, and send button. The changes were discovered in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.41.11, according to an October 17, 2026, report by WABetaInfo. […]