Coming soon: New WhatsApp feature to hide your online status!

If you use WhatsApp, you must know that you can see the ‘last seen’ and the ‘online’ status of users if you visit their private chat. Now, WhatsApp allows users to block their ‘last seen’ status. You can do so by choosing to show your ‘last seen’ status to

• ‘my contacts’ wherein your contacts can see your ‘last seen’ status
• ‘my contacts except’ wherein all your contacts except the selected ones can see your status
• ‘nobody’ wherein none can see your ‘last seen’ status

However, when it comes to your ‘online’ status, all your contacts can see whether or not you are online. Currently, there is no control over this feature. But, reportedly, WhatsApp is working on rectifying this so that you can control who can see your online status. While the feature is currently unavailable, WhatsApp will soon launch it in the near future.

The feature will be launched in the Beta mode in the upcoming update. Android and iPhones would support the feature. Moreover, the feature would also be available in the desktop version of WhatsApp. Once the feature comes out, you can access it in the WhatsApp Privacy Settings option.


The new feature is expected to have two options – ‘Everyone’ and ‘Same as Last Seen’. If you choose the ‘Everyone’ option, everyone can check your online status. However, if you select the ‘Same as Last Seen’, people who can see your ‘last seen’ status would be able to see your online status as well.

Here’s a quick look at how it will work if you choose the option of ‘Same as Last Seen’ for the ‘Online’ status as well–

'Last Seen' Status	'Online' status	Who can see your status
My contacts	My contacts	All the contacts saved in your phone
My contacts except	My contacts except	All the contacts saved in your phone except the ones that you choose not to see your status
Nobody	Nobody	None

The feature to hide your ‘online’ status is not yet available. However, it is under development and is expected to be launched soon. Till then, all you can do is wait!