> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/whiskeysockets/Baileys/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Privacy Settings

> Fetch and update all WhatsApp privacy settings including last seen, online status, profile picture, status, read receipts, and groups using Baileys

## Fetch Privacy Settings

Retrieve all current privacy settings for your account:

```ts theme={null}
const privacySettings = await sock.fetchPrivacySettings(true)
console.log('privacy settings: ' + privacySettings)
```

<Info>
  Pass `true` to force refresh the settings, or `false` to use cached values. The function is implemented in `src/Socket/chats.ts:119-134`.
</Info>

## Privacy Value Types

Most privacy settings accept these values:

* `'all'` - Everyone can see
* `'contacts'` - Only your contacts can see
* `'contact_blacklist'` - Contacts except blocked ones
* `'none'` - Nobody can see

## Update Last Seen Privacy

Control who can see when you were last online:

```ts theme={null}
const value = 'all' // 'contacts' | 'contact_blacklist' | 'none'
await sock.updateLastSeenPrivacy(value)
```

## Update Online Privacy

Control who can see when you're online:

```ts theme={null}
const value = 'all' // 'match_last_seen'
await sock.updateOnlinePrivacy(value)
```

<Note>
  Online privacy has two options: `'all'` or `'match_last_seen'` (same as last seen setting).
</Note>

## Update Profile Picture Privacy

Control who can see your profile picture:

```ts theme={null}
const value = 'all' // 'contacts' | 'contact_blacklist' | 'none'
await sock.updateProfilePicturePrivacy(value)
```

## Update Status Privacy

Control who can see your WhatsApp status/about:

```ts theme={null}
const value = 'all' // 'contacts' | 'contact_blacklist' | 'none'
await sock.updateStatusPrivacy(value)
```

## Update Read Receipts Privacy

Control whether you send read receipts (blue ticks):

```ts theme={null}
const value = 'all' // 'none'
await sock.updateReadReceiptsPrivacy(value)
```

<Warning>
  Disabling read receipts (`'none'`) also prevents you from seeing others' read receipts.
</Warning>

## Update Groups Add Privacy

Control who can add you to groups:

```ts theme={null}
const value = 'all' // 'contacts' | 'contact_blacklist'
await sock.updateGroupsAddPrivacy(value)
```

<Info>
  Groups add privacy only supports `'all'`, `'contacts'`, or `'contact_blacklist'`. The `'none'` option is not available.
</Info>

## Update Default Disappearing Mode

Set the default duration for disappearing messages in new chats:

### Supported Times

| Time   | Seconds   |
| ------ | --------- |
| Remove | 0         |
| 24h    | 86,400    |
| 7d     | 604,800   |
| 90d    | 7,776,000 |

### Example

```ts theme={null}
const ephemeral = 86400 // 24 hours in seconds
await sock.updateDefaultDisappearingMode(ephemeral)

// Disable default disappearing mode
await sock.updateDefaultDisappearingMode(0)
```

<Tip>
  The default is 7 days (604,800 seconds). Use `WA_DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL` constant which equals `7 * 24 * 60 * 60` seconds.
</Tip>

## Privacy Functions Reference

All privacy update functions are implemented in `src/Socket/chats.ts`:

| Function                        | Line    | Description                          |
| ------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `fetchPrivacySettings`          | 119-134 | Fetch all privacy settings           |
| `updateLastSeenPrivacy`         | 168-170 | Update last seen visibility          |
| `updateOnlinePrivacy`           | 172-174 | Update online status visibility      |
| `updateProfilePicturePrivacy`   | 176-178 | Update profile picture visibility    |
| `updateStatusPrivacy`           | 180-182 | Update status/about visibility       |
| `updateReadReceiptsPrivacy`     | 184-186 | Update read receipt settings         |
| `updateGroupsAddPrivacy`        | 188-190 | Update who can add to groups         |
| `updateDefaultDisappearingMode` | 192-209 | Update default disappearing messages |

## Complete Example

```ts theme={null}
// Fetch current settings
const settings = await sock.fetchPrivacySettings(true)
console.log('Current privacy settings:', settings)

// Update multiple privacy settings
await sock.updateLastSeenPrivacy('contacts')
await sock.updateOnlinePrivacy('match_last_seen')
await sock.updateProfilePicturePrivacy('contacts')
await sock.updateStatusPrivacy('contacts')
await sock.updateReadReceiptsPrivacy('all')
await sock.updateGroupsAddPrivacy('contacts')

// Set default disappearing messages to 24 hours
await sock.updateDefaultDisappearingMode(86400)
```

<Note>
  All privacy functions use the internal `privacyQuery` helper which sends IQ queries to WhatsApp servers with the appropriate XML namespace.
</Note>