WhatsApp is introducing support for passkeys on Android, allowing users to securely log back into their accounts using biometric authentication or their device’s PIN. Previously, WhatsApp required users to log into their accounts with a one-time password (OTP) and an optional six-digit PIN for two-factor authentication. With the addition of passkey support, Android users can now use their phone’s built-in facial or fingerprint recognition feature to log back into their account using a password saved on their device.
A week after Google revealed that it planned to eliminate the use of passwords in its services while simultaneously introducing support for passkeys on Android and the web, WhatsApp announced support for passkeys on Android via X (formerly known as Twitter). It’s worth noting that the existing fingerprint lock option remains available and users can still choose to log in by entering their phone number and an OTP.
What are access codes?
A passkey is a secure alternative to using a password to log in to apps and services. Instead of typing a password and a secure OTP, you can use your fingerprint or PIN on your smartphone to verify that you (the account owner) are trying to log in.
It is a Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) “secret” that is stored on a device such as a smartphone and used to log into websites in place of passwords. Passwords rely on two technologies working simultaneously: public key cryptography and biometric authentication on your smartphone.
Thanks to the use of public key cryptography, your access key never leaves your device and remains protected even if WhatsApp’s server is hacked. You don’t have to steal passwords. Because of these safety benefits. Other companies such as Adobe, Amazon, GitHub, Google, PayPal and Uber are working on – or already allowing – logins via passkeys.
Support for WhatsApp password on the latest beta version of the app for Android phones
“Passkey authentication will make logging into WhatsApp easier and more secure. We’re excited to launch this on WhatsApp and give users an extra layer of security,” WhatsApp head of product Alice Newton-Rex said earlier.
How to create a passkey on WhatsApp for Android
To enable passcodes on WhatsApp for Android, you can open WhatsApp, navigate to the settings menu and tap Bill > Passwords > Create an access key. Then you can read the pop-up message informing you about how passcodes work and then tap Get on. Another pop-up from Google Password Manager asks if you want to create a password for WhatsApp: tap it Get on And Use screen lock to enable logging in using your phone’s screen lock method. You can now see the access key generated via WhatsApp.
Gadgets 360 was able to confirm that passkey support was enabled on WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.21.12, with support for seamless logins using biometric authentication. Users running the latest version of WhatsApp from the stable channel may have to wait a little longer for the feature to be enabled on their smartphones.
