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The privacy API allows you to fetch and update account-level privacy settings, such as who can see your last seen, profile photo, about text, and online status.

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Access

Privacy operations are available directly on the Client: 
let settings = client.fetch_privacy_settings().await?;
client.set_privacy_setting("last", "contacts").await?;

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Methods

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fetch_privacy_settings

Fetch all current privacy settings. 
pub async fn fetch_privacy_settings(&self) -> Result<PrivacySettingsResponse, IqError>
Returns:
  • PrivacySettingsResponse - Contains a list of all privacy settings
Example: 
let response = client.fetch_privacy_settings().await?;

for setting in &response.settings {
    println!("{:?} = {:?}", setting.category, setting.value);
}

// Look up a specific category
use whatsapp_rust::privacy_settings::PrivacyCategory;

if let Some(value) = response.get_value(&PrivacyCategory::Last) {
    println!("Last seen: {:?}", value);
}

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set_privacy_setting

Update a specific privacy setting. 
pub async fn set_privacy_setting(
    &self,
    category: &str,
    value: &str,
) -> Result<(), IqError>
Parameters:
  • category - Privacy category string (see PrivacyCategory below)
  • value - Privacy value string (see PrivacyValue below)
Example: 
// Hide last seen from everyone
client.set_privacy_setting("last", "none").await?;

// Show profile photo only to contacts
client.set_privacy_setting("profile", "contacts").await?;

// Allow everyone to add you to groups
client.set_privacy_setting("groupadd", "all").await?;

// Disable read receipts
client.set_privacy_setting("readreceipts", "none").await?;

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set_default_disappearing_mode

Set the default disappearing messages duration for all new chats. 
pub async fn set_default_disappearing_mode(
    &self,
    duration: u32,
) -> Result<(), IqError>
Parameters:
  • duration - Timer in seconds. Common values: 86400 (24 hours), 604800 (7 days), 7776000 (90 days). Pass 0 to disable.
Example: 
// Enable 7-day default disappearing messages
client.set_default_disappearing_mode(604800).await?;

// Disable default disappearing messages
client.set_default_disappearing_mode(0).await?;
This sets the default for new chats only. Existing chats keep their current setting. To change disappearing messages for a specific group, use set_ephemeral.

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Types

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PrivacyCategory

pub enum PrivacyCategory {
    Last,           // "last" — Last seen visibility
    Online,         // "online" — Online status visibility
    Profile,        // "profile" — Profile photo visibility
    Status,         // "status" — Status/story visibility
    GroupAdd,       // "groupadd" — Who can add you to groups
    ReadReceipts,   // "readreceipts" — Read receipt visibility
    Other(String),  // Unknown/custom category
}

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PrivacyValue

pub enum PrivacyValue {
    All,              // "all" — Visible to everyone
    Contacts,         // "contacts" — Visible only to contacts
    None,             // "none" — Not visible to anyone
    ContactBlacklist, // "contact_blacklist" — Contacts except specific list
    MatchLastSeen,    // "match_last_seen" — Match the other person's setting
    Other(String),    // Unknown/custom value
}

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PrivacySetting

pub struct PrivacySetting {
    pub category: PrivacyCategory,
    pub value: PrivacyValue,
}

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PrivacySettingsResponse

pub struct PrivacySettingsResponse {
    pub settings: Vec<PrivacySetting>,
}
Methods:
  • get(&self, category: &PrivacyCategory) -> Option<&PrivacySetting> - Look up a setting by category
  • get_value(&self, category: &PrivacyCategory) -> Option<&PrivacyValue> - Look up a value directly

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Common patterns

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Fetch and display all settings

use whatsapp_rust::privacy_settings::{PrivacyCategory, PrivacyValue};

let response = client.fetch_privacy_settings().await?;

let categories = [
    PrivacyCategory::Last,
    PrivacyCategory::Online,
    PrivacyCategory::Profile,
    PrivacyCategory::Status,
    PrivacyCategory::GroupAdd,
    PrivacyCategory::ReadReceipts,
];

for category in &categories {
    let value = response
        .get_value(category)
        .unwrap_or(&PrivacyValue::All);
    println!("{:?}: {:?}", category, value);
}

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Maximum privacy configuration

client.set_privacy_setting("last", "none").await?;
client.set_privacy_setting("online", "match_last_seen").await?;
client.set_privacy_setting("profile", "contacts").await?;
client.set_privacy_setting("status", "contacts").await?;
client.set_privacy_setting("groupadd", "contacts").await?;
client.set_privacy_setting("readreceipts", "none").await?;

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See also