Some people love it. Some hate it. One thing’s for sure: WhatsApp’s “last seen” feature gets a lot of people into trouble. But have you ever wondered whose timezone it’s based on?

Is WhatsApp's "last seen" time displayed according to the timezone of the person checking? Or is it the timezone of the person on the other end? Here's what to know about the last seen feature and why it may sometimes seem wrong.

Is "Last Seen" in WhatsApp Based on Someone's Timezone?

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WhatsApp's "last seen" feature is based on someone's timezone. Specifically, it's based on the timezone of the person checking someone else's "last seen" timestamp. The meaning of the last seen stamp refers to the last time someone had WhatsApp open on their device with an active internet connection.

So, even if your friend is halfway across the world, if WhatsApp says they were last seen at 12:15pm, that would be 12:15pm your time.

If you want to use WhatsApp while maintaining your privacy, you may choose to disable this feature. But that means you won't be able to see the last seen timestamp of others.

Why the "Last Seen" Time on WhatsApp May Seem Wrong

WhatsApp logo on phone screen

You might be seeing the wrong "last seen" information because the timezone set on your phone is incorrect. WhatsApp recommends changing your phone's date and time settings to automatic to remedy this. You can easily change the date and time settings on your iPhone or Android device.

If this doesn't work, try manually changing the date, time, and timezone settings if it doesn't do the trick. If the "last seen" information is still incorrect, the problem may lie with your network. Consider contacting your mobile network provider to fix it.

Should You Enable “Last Seen” on WhatsApp?

Whether you should enable WhatsApp's "last seen" feature is a hotly contested topic. It all depends on whether you're comfortable with people knowing you were recently active and what that comes with. But if you prefer to fly under the radar, it's probably best you don't enable it.