SAN FRANCISCO – The instant messaging application WhatsApp is set to roll out passkey support for accessing encrypted backups, a significant move designed to simplify security for users.
This new feature means that if a user loses their device, they will be able to access their WhatsApp backup using their fingerprint, facial recognition, or the device’s screen lock code, rather than a traditional password.
For a long time, WhatsApp’s chat backups lacked the protection of encryption. In 2021, Meta introduced end-to-end encryption for backups, which could be secured using either a password or a 64-character encryption key.
The primary issue with both methods was that users were required to remember their password or key; if forgotten, the backup was inaccessible. With the new passkey system, this burden is removed.
According to WhatsApp, this feature will be released to users within the “coming weeks or months.” Users are advised to watch for the update to become available in their app.
