How to hide the last seen time for one person in WhatsApp - briefly?
To hide your last seen status from a specific contact on WhatsApp, you need to adjust your privacy settings. Unfortunately, WhatsApp does not currently allow for selective visibility; you can only set your last seen status to be visible to everyone, to your contacts, or to no one at all. Therefore, hiding it from just one person is not possible without changing the setting for all your contacts.
How to hide the last seen time for one person in WhatsApp - in detail?
Hiding the last seen timestamp from a specific contact in WhatsApp is a common request among users who value their privacy. While WhatsApp does not offer a direct feature to hide this information from just one person, there are several workarounds you can consider. Below, we will explore each method in detail to help you achieve the desired level of privacy.
Method 1: Blocking and Unblocking
One of the simplest methods to prevent someone from seeing your last seen status is by blocking them temporarily. Here’s how it works:
- Open WhatsApp on your device.
- Navigate to the contact you wish to block.
- Tap on their name or profile picture to open their chat.
- Select the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner of the screen.
- Choose Block.
- Confirm the action by tapping Block again.
Once you have blocked this contact, they will no longer be able to see your last seen timestamp or any status updates you share. However, you won’t be able to message them either until you unblock them.
To unblock and regain access:
- Go to Settings in WhatsApp.
- Select Account.
- Tap on Privacy.
- Scroll down to find the option for Blocked Contacts.
- Choose the contact you wish to unblock, then tap Unblock.
This method is effective but requires manual blocking and unblocking each time you want to change your status visibility.
Method 2: Changing Privacy Settings
WhatsApp allows users to adjust their privacy settings to control who can see their last seen timestamp. While this setting applies globally rather than to a single contact, it’s still a useful tool for enhancing privacy.
- Open WhatsApp on your device.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Account.
- Choose Privacy.
- Under the "Last Seen" section, select who can see your last seen timestamp:
- Everyone: All users can see when you were last online.
- My Contacts: Only contacts saved in your address book can view this information.
- Nobody: No one will be able to see your last seen status.
Selecting "Nobody" ensures that no one, including the specific contact you wish to hide from, can see when you were last online. However, keep in mind that this setting also prevents you from seeing others’ last seen timestamps.
Method 3: Using Third-Party Applications
There are third-party applications available that claim to offer more granular control over WhatsApp privacy settings. While these apps can be useful, it’s essential to exercise caution and ensure they come from reputable sources to avoid security risks.
- Search for a trusted privacy app in your device’s app store.
- Follow the installation instructions provided by the app.
- Configure the settings according to the app’s guidelines to hide your last seen status from specific contacts.
Method 4: Using a Second Device
Another approach is to use WhatsApp on a secondary device for communicating with the contact you wish to hide your last seen timestamp from. This method requires having two devices and setting up WhatsApp Web or using the desktop version of the app.
- Set up WhatsApp Web on your computer by scanning the QR code with your primary device.
- Use this secondary setup for communicating with the specific contact.
- Ensure that your primary device is offline or has its privacy settings configured to hide the last seen status from everyone.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp does not provide a direct option to hide the last seen timestamp from a single contact, these workarounds can help you achieve a similar result. By blocking and unblocking, adjusting global privacy settings, or using third-party apps and secondary devices, you can enhance your privacy on WhatsApp effectively.