If you're a parent whose phone is frequently being borrowed by your kids to play games on, here's one good news for you. Now, you can let your children use your mobile device without worrying about your privacy, specifically your messages' security on WhatsApp being compromised. How? By locking the messaging up on your mobile phone.

It doesn't matter if you are using Android or iOS device. You can still enjoy the feature in a few easy steps, anyway. With this latest update, choose between your face through the FaceID and your fingerprint, when locking WhatsApp. This Facebook-owned app already enabled this setting for iOS early this year. And, just this week, it rolled the same feature out for Android phones.

Easy Ways to Use the Feature

Having the ability to lock WhatsApp on your gadget means having an added level of security to your device. It helps guarantee that you are the only one who can access your messages. You don't need to register your fingerprint or face again when using the feature. WhatsApp depends on biometric authentication based on the device's system. Below are the simple steps to lock the app on your mobile phone.

When enabling the fingerprint lock, WhatsApp said you could toggle on this feature from within the privacy settings menu of the app. You'll find options to let the app remain unlocked for around 30 minutes after unlocking it. You have an opportunity, too, to stop your messages' content from being displayed on the notifications.

For Android device:

1. Open WhatsApp on your wireless device.
2. On the top right, tap the 3 dots; choose and tap the 'Settings' option.
3. From the 'Settings' menu, choose and tap the 'Account' option.
4. Tap the 'Privacy' option.
5. From your phone's 'Privacy' menu, tap 'Fingerprint Lock.'
6. Switch the 'Unlock with Fingerprint' option on and confirm your fingerprint.

For iOS device:

1. Open WhatsApp on your wireless device.
2.  On the top right, tap the three dots; choose and tap the 'Settings' option.
3.  From the 'Settings' menu, choose and tap the 'Account' option.
4.  Tap the 'Privacy' option.
5. Choose and tap the 'Screen Lock' option.
6. Turn on the Face ID or Touch ID. (You choose the amount of time before the Face ID, or Touch ID, is prompted by tapping to select the specific time).

Not all Android and iOS device users can enjoy this latest update on WhatsApp, though. Meaning, the lock feature is not yet available in all regions, but it's continuing to roll out. So, if you haven't found the feature on your mobile phone yet, worry not. Keep on checking for your region might be the next in line for WhatsApp to roll out its latest innovation.

WhatsApp never ceases to offer features for users to benefit more and make the most out of their use the app. Just recently, this leading messaging app launched a set of new exciting features that are undoubtedly worth downloading and experiencing.