WhatsApp’s latest update lets you lock chat backups with biometric passkeys – Details inside
WhatsApp now lets you keep your saved chats safe using your fingerprint or your phone's lock. This means your private messages are more secure and easier to open without a tricky password.
WhatsApp users can now secure their backups with passkeys, replacing the old method of setting and managing passwords or 64-digit encryption keys manually. Beginning this week, the messaging app is introducing passkey support for securing backups saved on cloud services (Google Drive, iCloud) using the device’s existing biometric or screen-lock credentials (fingerprint, face unlock, PIN).
The feature works on top of WhatsApp’s existing end-to-end encryption promise (only the sender and recipient can read the chats). But so far, users had to manually set a password or make a note of the 64-digit key if they wanted to have encrypted backups. Passkey support eliminates this friction and the security of the backup is now linked to the security of the device used for creating it.
Why this matters: Passkey-based backup encryption minimizes user friction and also improves privacy. If a phone is lost or compromised, the encrypted backup will remain safe and inaccessible without the biometric or lock being unlocked on another device. WhatsApp adds that the secure backup remains safe, even if it’s on the cloud, because it can only be unlocked with the device’s security (face unlock, fingerprint, PIN) on that phone.
How to set it up: The feature will roll out to users over the coming weeks and months. To check and use the feature, head to Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup, and follow the onscreen instructions to set passkey protection for your backups.
Things to note: Chats with business accounts remain end-to-end encrypted for messages sent and received. But WhatsApp cautions that once the business receives a message, how the business handles it is subject to their internal policy.
In a world where data breaches and account hacks are all too frequent, this WhatsApp update signals a broader shift towards frictionless, high-security user experiences—making it easier for you to keep your online conversations secure without needing to remember complicated keys or passwords.
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