WhatsApp has officially announced the rollout of a new privacy feature designed to give users greater control over their contact management across multiple devices. This update is available to users who install the latest version of the Meta-owned instant messaging app.
With this new feature, users can choose to store contacts solely within WhatsApp or sync them with their phone’s address book. This flexibility allows for improved contact management tailored to individual preferences.
To access the feature, users can navigate to WhatsApp Settings > Privacy > Contacts > WhatsApp Contacts. According to WABetaInfo, this update also enables users to add and edit contacts across all their linked devices.
A key aspect of this update is the introduction of a toggle labeled “Sync contact to phone,” which appears when users add a new contact. This option allows users to determine whether they want to sync a particular contact to their phone’s address book or keep it exclusively within WhatsApp. Contacts stored solely in WhatsApp will not appear in the phone’s general contact list.
Additionally, WhatsApp has implemented a new storage system known as Identity Proof Linked Storage (IPLS), which securely stores contact information and allows users to restore their contacts, even if they lose their devices. This system utilizes Key Transparency, enabling users to verify the authenticity of their contacts and track any changes to their identity keys.
To further enhance security, WhatsApp has partnered with Cloudflare to provide independent verification, ensuring that contact data remains untampered. The app also employs cryptographic hashes to protect the phone numbers of contacts who do not have WhatsApp accounts, without storing or sharing their details on its servers.
Notably, contacts stored in WhatsApp will be automatically restored when users reinstall the app, switch devices, or link a new device. This feature is now rolling out to users who update WhatsApp for Android from the Google Play Store and for iOS from the App Store, with availability expanding in the coming days.
