WhatsApp passkey support is coming to iPhones: How to use passcode to secure your chats

WhatsApp is finally entering the passwordless future with the latest announcement. The Meta-owned app said passkey support is now available for the app’s iOS version. With passkeys, WhatsApp users can log into the app using their iPhone’s Face ID and Touch ID, in addition to the phone’s passcode. While WhatsApp already offers the facility to unlock the app and chats using biometrics on an iPhone, passkeys will give a completely safe environment by employing Face ID and Touch ID for logins.

WhatsApp passkey feature is now rolling out

But, let us first understand what passkeys are!

Passkeys are a new technology that can replace traditional passwords as tech companies move away to a more secure future for logins. Instead of using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in a password, you can opt for passkeys to enable logins using your device’s biometrics. They could be your face or fingerprint, both supported across operating systems and devices. It is built on WebAuthn (or Web Authentication) technology where two different keys are generated when you create a passkey. One is stored on the website or the service you are logging into and the other key is fed into the device privately that you use for authentication.

In case you lose a device, backup keys can help you log into a service and pair it with a different device through a new set of passkeys. Some services also let you use your mobile number or email address for passkey recovery.

passkeys are rolling out now on iOS 🔑 a more secure (and easier!) way to log back in with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode

here are some reasons you should set it up 👇

— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) April 24, 2024

Now, let us talk about how passkeys on WhatsApp for iOS will work.

When you sign into WhatsApp for the first time on an iPhone (or an Android phone), the app asks you for a passcode to authenticate the login. This is a numeric passcode that you are required to enter. You can alternatively use a one-time password, otherwise known as OTP. However, using passkeys will eliminate passcodes from this step, allowing you to use your iPhone’s Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate the login. This is a safer method than passwords as it reduces the chances of someone hacking into your account through keylogging or other nefarious ways.

Passkeys are already available on WhatsApp’s Android app, following last year’s announcement. WhatsApp users will begin to see the passkey support “in the coming weeks.” To set it up, you can go to Settings > Account > Passkeys.