Recently, some WhatsApp users have despaired at the addition of Meta AI to the app. More specifically, they’re upset that they can’t seem to switch it off.
But digit expert Michael Ryan from Ink Digital shares that another (possibly more welcome) feature of the app is “turned off by default.”
The setting, which WhatsApp describes as an “advanced security measure”, may help to “prevent a flood of unsolicited messages from reaching your phone,” the expert says.
“While it won’t block messages from your contacts, this setting is designed to shield you from large-scale spam attacks that could bring your phone to a standstill.”
The feature is called Block Unknown Account Messages
The feature, named Block Unknown Account Messages, will stop high-volume texts from unknown numbers from reaching your phone.
It doesn’t prevent all spam or potential spam from reaching your WhatsApp, but it does cut off messages from accounts outside of your contacts when “they exceed a high volume,” WhatsApp’s site reads.
This is helpful because “In some cases, receiving a huge volume of spam messages can slow your phone’s performance or even freeze it entirely,” Ryan said.
“Typically, these messages come from unknown numbers, not your regular contacts.”
Texts from regular contacts will still reach you while you have the setting switched on, and messages won’t be blocked anymore once they return to “normal” volumes.
How do I enable Block Unknown Account Messages in WhatsApp?
“If you’re using an iPhone, you can turn on this feature by going to Settings, then tapping Privacy, and selecting Advanced,” Ryan said.
Once you’re there, you can simply toggle Block Unknown Account Messages on.
Meanwhile, “On an Android device, you’ll need to tap the three-dot menu icon,” the expert added.
“Next, head to Settings, then Privacy, and choose Advanced. You can then activate the feature from that menu.”
If you’re using WhatsApp Web, “click the three dots, go to Settings, then Privacy, and select Advanced,” Ryan continued; once there, you should see the setting listed, and you can simply switch it on.
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