WhatsApp is introducing a new privacy feature that will prevent messages from unknown numbers from appearing directly in your chat list.

With this upcoming update, messages from unsaved or unknown contacts will move to a new folder called “Requests” instead of appearing in the main chat window. This feature will not block the messages but will change how they appear.

Users can adjust the new “Who can message me” setting. If you choose “Everyone,” you will continue to receive messages from all numbers, even those not saved in your phone. However, if you select “My Contacts,” only messages from saved numbers will appear directly in your chat list.

Other messages will go to the “Requests” folder, similar to Instagram. From there, users can decide whether to reply, delete, report, or block the sender. Once a user replies to a message, that chat will automatically move to the main chat list.