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[How To] WhatsApp users on Android finally get rid of ‘last seen’ timestamps

Yash GargFebruary 21, 2014

Right after Facebook’s acquisition of massively popular messaging app WhatsApp, the Facebook subsidiary rolled out an update earlier today which allows Android users to hide their last seen timestamp.

For those who aren’t aware, WhatsApp shares your ‘last seen’ time with your contacts list. iOS users could, since a long time, disable the feature and it has now been brought on to Android as well.

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How to hide your ‘last seen’ on WhatsApp (Android)

Head over to the downloads section of the official WhatsApp website
Download and install the APK (you might need to allow installation from unknown sources)
Fire up the updated app, go to Settings -> Account -> Privacy
Under ‘Who can see my personal info’, tap on ‘Last seen’
You can choose between ‘Everyone’, ‘My Contacts’ and ‘Nobody’
Enjoy your privacy!

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About the author
Yash Garg
Yash is a blogger by profession, builder of things by passion and foodie by birth. You'll usually find him talking about technology, music, travel and the game of cricket on the streets of Pune when not busy writing or speeding his way through the country! Read more on retro handheld gaming on RETRO91

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Took them way to long to do this but better late than never!
Giz Freak
February 22, 2014
Too late I switched to Threema

February 24, 2014
Too late. I switched to much a superior one: Telegram – https://telegram.org/
Telegram Messenger is a free and partially open source cross-platform messenger with a focus on security.
Telegram users can exchange encrypted and self-destructing messages, photos, videos and DOCUMENTS (ALL file-types supported).
Telegram is officially available for Android and iOS (including tablets and no-wifi devices).
UNOFFICIAL clients for Windows Phone, as well as a WEB version, OS X version and a Windows desktop client are available from independent developers using the Telegram API.
– Powerful: Telegram has NO limits on the size of your media and chats
– Ability to send DOCUMENTS (ALL file-types supported) and multiple photos
– Distributed: Telegram servers are spread worldwide for security and speed
– Open: Telegram has an open API and protocol free for everyone
– Free: Telegram is free forever. No ads. No subscription fees
– Cloud-Based: Telegram lets you access your messages from multiple devices and cloud sync between devices
– Private: Telegram messages are heavily encrypted and can self-destruct
– Has mobile versions, desktop versions and browser extensions
– Groups for 200 members
– Message read status: 1 check = sent, 2 checks = read (opened)
Earlier esp. Europeans pick WhatsApp because they wanna stay away from those big names such as Google and Facebook due to their controversies with NSA (as in Edward Snowden’s revelations) but now WhatsApp is part of Facebook, they just switch in flocks to the Berlin-based Telegram. Understand that privacy is their utmost concern today.
February 24, 2014
Too late. I switched to much a SUPERIOR one: Telegram
Telegram Messenger is a free and partially open source cross-platform messenger with a focus on security.
Telegram users can exchange encrypted and self-destructing messages, photos, videos and DOCUMENTS (ALL file-types supported).
Telegram is officially available for Android and iOS (including tablets and no-wifi devices).
UNOFFICIAL
clients for Windows Phone, as well as a WEB version, OS X version and a
Windows desktop client are available from independent developers using
the Telegram API.
Just check below features to see why it’s much more superior than WhatsApp:
– Powerful: Telegram has NO limits on the size of your media and chats
– Ability to send DOCUMENTS (ALL file-types supported) and multiple photos
– Distributed: Telegram servers are spread worldwide for security and speed
– Open: Telegram has an open API and protocol free for everyone
– Free: Telegram is free forever. No ads. No subscription fees
– Cloud-Based: Telegram lets you access your messages from multiple devices and cloud sync between devices
– Private: Telegram messages are heavily encrypted and can self-destruct
– Has mobile versions, desktop versions and browser extensions
– Groups for 200 members
– Message read status: 1 check = sent, 2 checks = read (opened)
Earlier esp. Europeans pick WhatsApp because they wanna stay away from those
big names such as Google and Facebook due to their controversies with
NSA (as in Edward Snowden’s revelations) but now WhatsApp is part of
Facebook, they just switch in flocks to the Berlin-based Telegram.
Understand that privacy is their utmost concern today.