To hide the sender's name on WhatsApp notifications on an iPhone, open Settings, tap Notifications, tap WhatsApp, then tap Show Previews and choose When Unlocked or Never. With previews off, your lock screen shows a plain WhatsApp alert instead of who wrote and what they said. For single chats, Chat Lock is the stronger option.
Here's the part that surprises most people. The iPhone decides what a notification shows, not WhatsApp alone, so the main switch lives in your phone's Settings app and WhatsApp has a second one of its own. I'll walk through both, then the Focus and lock screen options, then Chat Lock for the chats you really want kept private.
Hide the name and message with iPhone Settings
This is the route most people want. It only changes WhatsApp, so your other apps carry on showing previews as normal.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Notifications.
- Scroll down the list of apps and tap WhatsApp.
- Tap Show Previews.
- Choose When Unlocked or Never.
- Lock your phone and ask a friend to send you a message, so you can see exactly what appears.
When Unlocked means the preview only appears after Face ID or your passcode has opened the phone. Never hides it even then. If you'd rather every app behave the same way, go back to Settings, then Notifications, and use the Show Previews option at the top of that screen. That one applies to all apps at once.
With previews off, the lock screen shows a generic WhatsApp notification in place of the sender and the text. How much is hidden can vary a little between iOS versions, which is why that last step matters. If a menu name looks different on your phone, search Settings for the word Notifications.
Turn off the preview inside WhatsApp too
WhatsApp has a switch of its own, and it mainly controls the message text. Open WhatsApp, tap Settings, then Notifications, and switch off Show Preview. After that, WhatsApp's own notifications stop showing the words of each message.
I'd treat this as a second layer rather than a replacement. On some versions the sender's name can still appear with this toggle alone, so keep the iPhone setting on as well.
Focus modes and lock screen display styles
Two more iPhone features change what other people can see on your lock screen. Neither hides a name by itself, but they help.
- Focus: a Focus such as Sleep or Work, or a custom one you create, lets you choose which people and apps are allowed to notify you. If WhatsApp isn't on the allowed list, its alerts are silenced and wait for you in Notification Centre.
- Lock screen display style: on iOS 16 and later you can choose how notifications appear on the lock screen: Count, Stack or List. Count shows only a small number at the bottom, so nobody can read a name from across the table. You'll find it under Settings, then Notifications, then Display As.
Count is a quiet winner for shared desks, train journeys and family sofas. The notifications are still there when you want them, you just have to swipe up to read them.
Chat Lock: the stronger option
Turning off previews hides names and text for every chat. If only a few conversations are sensitive, Chat Lock is the better tool. Open the chat, tap the contact's name at the top to open their info, and look for Chat lock. Switch it on and confirm with Face ID or your passcode.
WhatsApp moves that chat into a locked folder. According to the WhatsApp Help Center, notifications from a locked chat show a line like WhatsApp: 1 new message, with no sender and no content. Nobody who picks up your unlocked phone can open that chat without your Face ID or passcode either.
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Chat Lock hides things from view. It doesn't delete anything, and your messages still arrive as normal. If you can't find the option, update WhatsApp from the App Store and check again.
Which option should you pick?
It depends on who you're hiding from and how often. Here's how I'd choose.
- You want one simple fix for everyday privacy: set Show Previews to Never for WhatsApp, and add the Count display style if you're on iOS 16 or later.
- You only worry about a few conversations: leave previews alone and use Chat Lock on those chats.
- You just need a quiet hour: use a Focus, so alerts wait for you instead of lighting up the screen.
Whichever you choose, test it once. Ask a friend to send a message while your phone is locked, then look at the lock screen from the point of view of someone standing next to you. It takes a minute and it saves you guessing.
What each setting hides
| Setting | What it hides | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Show Previews set to Never | Message text, and usually the sender too, replaced by a generic WhatsApp alert | All apps, or WhatsApp only |
| Show Previews set to When Unlocked | The same details, but only while the phone is locked | All apps, or WhatsApp only |
| WhatsApp's own Show Preview toggle | Message text. The name may still show on some versions | WhatsApp only |
| Count display style (iOS 16 and later) | Names and text, until you swipe up | All apps |
| Chat Lock | Sender and content, shown as WhatsApp: 1 new message | One chat at a time |
| Focus without WhatsApp allowed | Nothing is hidden, but the alerts are silenced and held back | Whichever Focus is on |
A short note for Android
The idea is the same on Android, though the menus differ by brand. Look in your phone's main settings under Notifications for a lock screen option that hides sensitive content, either for all apps or for WhatsApp alone. Inside WhatsApp, the Show Preview toggle under Settings, then Notifications, works the same way as on iPhone. If a menu name looks different, search your settings for the words lock screen.
Notifications are only one door
These settings protect what appears on your own screen, and nobody who messages you will see any difference. If you also want to control what other people can see, my guide to hiding your WhatsApp online status from one person covers the online side, and how to hide last seen on WhatsApp covers the wider setting. For anything else in the app, the WhatsApp help guide is a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hide only the name and keep the message text?
Not reliably. The iPhone preview setting controls how much a notification reveals, and the generic alert usually replaces both. For one sensitive chat, Chat Lock is the cleaner route.
Will the other person know I hid previews?
No. Hiding previews only changes what your own phone shows on the lock screen. Nothing changes for the person messaging you.
Does Show Previews affect my other apps?
The option at the top of the Notifications screen applies to every app. The one inside WhatsApp's own entry applies to WhatsApp only.
Why don't I see Chat Lock?
It arrived in a WhatsApp update, so open the App Store, update WhatsApp and check the chat's contact info again.
