WhatsApp Rolling Out Passkey Support on Android
WhatsApp is preparing to roll out passkey support to all Android users.
As the secure messaging app noted on Twitter, passkey support means "only your face, finger print, or pin unlocks your WhatsApp account."
"Passkeys are a new way to log back into your account. Instead of using a one-time passcode, you’ll be able to log into WhatsApp the same way you unlock your phone—using fingerprint, face ID, or pincode," WhatsApp Head Will Cathcart added on Threads.
Cathcart says you can set it up during registration or from Settings, though the company tells TechCrunch that passkeys will roll out in the next few weeks or months on Android. An iOS launch was not announced.
As PCMag outlines in our explainer, passkeys are a pair of cryptography keys generated by your device. A public key and a private key combine to create a passkey that unlocks your account. Your private key is only stored on your device. You don't have to enter your email address or password into login fields all around the web, making it harder for criminals to steal your credentials and get into your accounts.
Last week, Google said it would nudge users to adopt the login method as their “default” to sign in. (Here's how to set it up.) Apple also supports them, as do apps like TikTok.
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