WhatsApp is making it easier and safer to protect your chat history. The platform has announced that users on iOS and Android will soon be able to secure their message backups using passkeys, removing the need for passwords or lengthy encryption codes altogether.
The update, which will start rolling out gradually over the next few weeks and months, means you’ll soon be able to lock your chat backups with your face, fingerprint, or device passcode – the same way you already unlock your phone or verify payments.
It’s a small change that should make a big difference in how people protect their private conversations.
WhatsApp first introduced end-to-end encrypted backups back in 2021, but the process required memorising a 64-digit encryption key or setting up a password linked to it, both of which were easy to forget and tricky to recover. Passkeys replace that friction with a faster, more secure option. You simply authenticate using built-in device security features, with no password to type or lose.
The move builds on WhatsApp’s broader push toward a passwordless future. The company added passkey login support for accounts in 2023, and this latest rollout extends that same convenience and protection to backups. Now, your saved chats will get the same level of security as your personal conversations and calls.
In its announcement, WhatsApp said, “Many of us carry years of precious memories in our chats — photos, heartfelt voice notes, and important conversations. That’s why protecting them if you ever lose your phone or need to transfer to a new device is so important.”
With this update, losing access to your account or switching phones should be a lot less stressful, and keeping your digital memories safe just got much simpler.
