WhatsApp for Windows users: Medium privacy set

What for: To keep strangers from reading your messages and to avoid getting distracted.

Your computer’s desktop can display WhatsApp notifications, which strangers can then see if, for example, you leave your laptop unattended. You can stop WhatsApp from showing desktop notifications or hide the text of notifications.

To disable such notifications:

1. Open the menu by clicking the three-dot icon to the right of the profile photo.
2. In Safari, the icon is a down arrow.
3. Go to the Settings section.
4. Select Notifications.
5. Clear the check mark next to Desktop alerts.

If you prefer not to disable notifications completely, block the display of message text or mute sounds. To do so:

1. Open the menu by clicking the three-dot icon to the right of the profile photo in the main application window.
2. Go to the Settings section.
3. Select Notifications.
4. Clear the check mark next to Sounds.
5. Clear the check mark next to Show previews.

What for: To keep out spam.

Any WhatsApp user who knows your phone number can send you a message. You can block unwanted users including fraudsters or spammers — or anyone else.

Blocked users will not know you’ve blacklisted them. They simply will not be able to call you or view your status updates, and any messages they send to you will be marked as undelivered. You will not see those messages at all.

To block a user:

1. Open the chat with the contact you want to block.
2. Click the three dots icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Select Contact info.
4. In the window that opens, click Block in the list at the bottom and confirm your selection.

Login settings cannot be configured in the Web version.

To check the list of connected devices and remove the devices you no longer use (or devices that do not belong to you) follow the instructions for configuring the iOS or Android app.

To secure your account further using two-step verification, follow the instructions for configuring the iOS or Android app.

To enable account protection using biometric data, follow the instructions for configuring the iOS or Android app.

To remove your account before changing the number, follow the instructions for configuring the iOS or Android app.

The Web version of WhatsApp does not let users edit personal data settings.

To stop showing media files from chats in the common gallery of your mobile device, follow the instructions for configuring the iOS or Android app.

To limit your profile’s visibility, follow the instructions for configuring the iOS or Android app.