Lock Your Chats With a PIN (App Lock and Locked Chats)

Your phone is unlocked more often than you think — handed to a child, a friend checking a photo, a repair shop. A second lock protects your conversations.

#App passcode

1. Open **Settings › Privacy & security**. 2. Turn on **App passcode on this device**. 3. Choose a PIN of at least 4 digits.

Yapie now asks for the PIN when you open it after a period of inactivity. The passcode is stored only on that device, as a hash.

#Lock individual chats

For a few especially private conversations, lock the chat itself from the chat list (long-press › **Lock chat**). Locked chats need your PIN to open, and their notifications just say "New message".

#Hide lock-screen previews

Go to **Settings › Notifications & sounds** and switch off **Show message text**. Notifications will say "New message" instead of showing what was written — on the lock screen and in Android's notification shade.

#Other privacy habits

- Use a **strong phone lock** (not just swipe). - Hide your **last seen** and **profile photo** from people who aren't contacts. - Use **view-once** media for sensitive photos — see [view-once photos](/blog/view-once-photos).

#Frequently asked questions

How do I put a password on Yapie?

Turn on App passcode on this device in Settings › Privacy & security and choose a PIN.

What if I forget my app passcode?

Sign out and sign back in with your account password; your chats are on the server. Then set a new passcode.

Do locked chats show notifications?

Yes, but only as "New message", without the sender's text.