Recommended Free Tools
To find a hidden WhatsApp chat, open the chat list and pull down to reveal Locked chats. If the folder is hidden, enter your secret code in WhatsApp’s search bar and select the folder. If you forgot the code, WhatsApp’s “Unlock and clear” option brings chats back to the main list—but deletes their messages and media. Check your backup before using it.
Find and open your locked chats
WhatsApp may describe locked chats as restricted or locked depending on the interface language. Chat Lock adds an authentication step; it does not remove the conversation. These directions apply to Android and iPhone, with a separate note for WhatsApp Web.
- On Android or iPhone: Open WhatsApp’s chat list and pull down to reveal the Locked chats folder.
- Tap Locked chats and authenticate using your phone’s configured method, such as device authentication, or enter the secret code.
- If the folder is hidden: Tap the search bar, enter your secret code, then select Locked chats when it appears.
The search method is the first option to try if you remember your code: it reveals the folder without clearing its contents. WhatsApp’s official Turn chat lock on or off instructions provide platform-specific guidance; exact interface labels can vary.
Using WhatsApp Web
Open Locked chats in WhatsApp Web and enter the secret code. WhatsApp says the code must first be created on the primary Android phone or iPhone. Use the phone’s locked-chat settings to hide or unhide chats.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
If you forgot the secret code
WhatsApp documents a reset route on Android and iPhone, but it is not a data-preserving unlock. The action clears the secret code and returns locked chats to the chat list while deleting the messages, photos, and videos in those chats.
- On your phone, open WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > Chat lock.
- Tap Unlock and clear locked chats.
- Review the warning, then tap Unlock and clear only if you accept that the locked-chat content will be cleared.
WhatsApp’s instructions do not describe a way to reset a forgotten code while preserving the locked chats’ contents. If you have not cleared the chats and remember the code after all, use the hidden-folder search method instead.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Check your backup before clearing chats
Before using “Unlock and clear,” consider whether you need the conversations or media. WhatsApp says cleared content can be restored only from a backup made before the chats were cleared. You can recover only messages and media that were included in that backup; items sent afterward are not in it.
WhatsApp’s chat-history backup and restore guidance says chat history is not stored on its servers. The Help Center states: “Unfortunately, we can’t restore your chats for you because your chat history isn’t stored on our servers.” Do not assume WhatsApp Support can retrieve history that is missing from your backup.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What to expect on a new phone
After restoring a backup to a new phone, locked chats remain locked. Set up device authentication on the new phone to access them. If you cannot access a hidden folder, the secret-code search method is distinct from clearing chats: revealing the folder lets you open the existing conversations, while “Unlock and clear” deletes their contents.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Clues that a chat may be locked
- Notifications from locked chats hide the contact name and message text. A notification may show “WhatsApp” or “WhatsApp: 1 new message.” That can be a clue, but it does not prove which chat is locked.
- Calls from contacts in locked chats are not blocked.
These details are described in WhatsApp’s Chat Lock help page. Its account security tips also describe Chat Lock’s device-authentication or secret-code protection.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
