If you’re sick of getting unknown callers that are usually spam calls on WhatsApp, there’s a new tool that lets you shun them automatically without having to battle them through fire and water, from the lowest dungeon to the highest peak.
The Meta-owned messaging app announced a “Silence Unknown Callers” update on Tuesday, which lets users do just that. SILENCE THEM. Calls from unknown callers won’t actually ring on your phone, but will instead be visible in your list of calls in case it’s someone you actually want to hear from.
Why am I getting so many spam calls? And how do I stop it?
“Silence Unknown Callers is designed to give you more privacy and control of your incoming calls,” a WhatsApp blog post reads(opens in a new tab). “It helps to automatically screen out spam, scams, and calls from unknown people for increased protection.”
The feature is live for all users now, and here’s how to use it.
How to silence unknown callers on WhatsApp:
- Smartphone
- WhatsApp app (updated)
Step 1:
In WhatsApp, open “Settings”
Hit the Settings tab in the bottom right of the app.
Step 2:
Hit the “Privacy” section
You’ll find this about halfway down the screen under “Account”.
Step 3:
Open “Calls”
You’ll find this under the “Live Location” section.
Credit: Screenshot: Shannon Connellan
Step 4:
Toggle on “Silence Unknown Callers”
Calls from unknown numbers will be silenced, and they’ll be instead shown in the Calls tab, second from the left in the WhatsApp menu at the bottom of the app.
Credit: Screenshot: Shannon Connellan
WhatsApp also added a new “Privacy Checkup” feature which lets you go through the app’s privacy settings to update them to your chosen level of protection — Meta’s other apps Facebook and Instagram already have similar checkups.
It’s the latest in a string of features WhatsApp is playing around with or launching, including screen sharing, message editing, a chat lock(opens in a new tab) feature for sensitive chats, the ability to save disappearing messages, screenshot blocking for View Once(opens in a new tab), and the means to chat with WhatsApp on WhatsApp.
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