SafeW protects all your messages with end-to-end encryption by default, but you can take your security even further with these advanced privacy settings. The following 10 tips will help you maximize your communication privacy and keep your digital life away from prying eyes. Haven't installed SafeW yet? Check out our Installation Guide first.
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Disappearing Messages can reduce long-term message retention by auto-deleting new messages after a selected timer. Actual behavior depends on platform, version, and each participant's setup.
How to Set It Up
- Open a conversation with a contact
- Tap the contact name at the top to open chat settings
- Find the 'Disappearing Messages' or 'Auto-Delete Messages' option
- Choose a timer: 5 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, or 1 week
- New messages sent will auto-delete based on your selected timer where supported
Chat Lock adds a separate password or biometric step for selected chats. It raises the bar for casual snooping if someone briefly has your unlocked phone, but it is not a substitute for full-disk security or a strong device passcode.
How to Set It Up
- Long-press on the conversation you want to lock
- Select the 'Lock Chat' option
- Set a separate password or enable fingerprint/face recognition
- The locked conversation will display a lock icon
- Each time you open it, you'll need to verify with your password or biometrics
By default, contacts may see when you're online. Hiding online status can reduce activity exposure, though platform behavior and mutual visibility rules may vary.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Privacy
- Find the 'Online Status' option
- Select 'Nobody' or 'My Contacts Only'
- Save and confirm how it appears on your current platform
Read receipts (blue double-check marks) let others know you've read their messages. Turning this off means others won't know when you've read their messages — but you also won't see when they've read yours.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Privacy
- Find the 'Read Receipts' option
- Toggle off read receipts
- Note: Group chat read receipts are controlled separately
App Lock adds another gate before SafeW opens on your device. It helps against quick shoulder-surfing or brief unlocked-phone access, but full-device compromise can still bypass app-level locks.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Privacy → App Lock
- Choose your lock method: password, fingerprint, or face recognition
- Set auto-lock timing: immediately, 1 minute, 5 minutes, or 30 minutes
- Once enabled, SafeW requires authentication every time you open it
Screen Security can reduce screenshot and recording exposure inside SafeW, but effectiveness depends on OS-level behavior and platform limitations.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Screen Security
- Enable the 'Block Screenshots' option
- When enabled, screenshots inside SafeW may show a black screen or warning, depending on platform
- Note: This feature often works better on Android; iOS has system-level limitations
Message previews on your lock screen and notification bar can expose your chat content. Configure notifications to show only the sender's name or hide content entirely to protect message privacy.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Notifications
- Find the 'Notification Preview' option
- Select 'Sender Name Only' or 'No Content'
- Your lock screen will now show 'You received a new message' instead of the actual content
Your SafeW account password still matters for recovery flows and device changes. Replacing a short PIN with a longer passphrase usually improves resistance to guessing and reuse.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Account → Change Password
- Set a password of at least 12 characters
- Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters
- Avoid using birthdays, phone numbers, or other easily guessable information
- Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords
Periodically check which devices are logged into your SafeW account. Remove any devices you no longer use or don't recognize to prevent unauthorized access.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Account → Logged-In Devices
- Review the list of all currently logged-in devices
- Check each device's name, model, and last active time
- For unrecognized devices, tap 'Remove' to log them out immediately
- If you spot a suspicious device, also change your password
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your account. Even if your password is compromised, an attacker will have a harder time logging in without the second verification factor.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Account → Two-Factor Authentication
- Choose your method: authenticator app (recommended) or SMS code
- Follow the prompts to complete setup and linking
- Save your backup recovery codes in case you lose your phone
- Every time you log in on a new device, you'll need both your password and a verification code
These settings help reduce common privacy leaks, but they do not replace source checks, device security, and careful sharing habits. Want to learn more about how SafeW's encryption works? Read our End-to-End Encryption Explained guide. Curious how SafeW compares to other messaging apps? Check out SafeW vs Telegram Comparison.
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