WhatsApp plans to make it easier for people to access their encrypted backups by introducing passkey support. With this update, anyone who loses their device can use their fingerprint, face, or screen lock code from a previous device to recover their WhatsApp backup quickly.
For a long time, WhatsApp offered no encryption for chat backups. That changed in 2021 when Meta allowed users to secure backups with end-to-end encryption using either passwords or 64-character encryption keys. The problem was that people often forgot their backup passwords or misplaced their encryption keys, which made restoring chats frustrating.
Passkeys solve that problem. They let users verify their identity without entering passwords or searching for long keys. This approach combines security and convenience, making it easier to recover data safely.
WhatsApp, which surpassed 3 billion active users in May, said it will release the feature gradually over the next few weeks and months. Users should watch for the update as it becomes available.
To enable encrypted backups and check for passkey options, users can open Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup and follow the prompts once the feature appears.
