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.
Table of Contents
Disappearing Messages is one of SafeW's most powerful privacy features. Once enabled, messages automatically delete after the recipient reads them within a set time, leaving no trace behind.
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 now auto-delete according to your chosen timer
Chat Lock lets you protect specific conversations with a password or biometric authentication. Even if someone accesses your phone and opens SafeW, they cannot view locked conversations.
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, your contacts can see when you're online. Hiding your online status prevents others from knowing whether you're currently using SafeW, fully protecting your activity privacy.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Privacy
- Find the 'Online Status' option
- Select 'Nobody' or 'My Contacts Only'
- Save — your online status will be hidden immediately
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 an extra layer of protection to the entire SafeW application. Every time you open SafeW, you'll need to authenticate with a password, fingerprint, or face recognition — preventing unauthorized access.
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 prevents screenshots and screen recordings within SafeW, ensuring chat content cannot be leaked through screen captures.
How to Set It Up
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Screen Security
- Enable the 'Block Screenshots' option
- When enabled, screenshots inside SafeW will show a black screen or warning
- Note: This feature works best 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 is the first line of defense. Replace a simple 4-digit PIN with a strong password to dramatically improve account security.
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 cannot log 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
With these 10 tips, your SafeW privacy protection is at the highest level. 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.