Meta, continuing its journey to improve security for WhatsApp, has introduced passkey-encrypted backups to ensure any precious “photos, heartfelt voice notes, and important conversations” aren’t lost to time. Passkeys first landed on WhatsApp in 2023, offering users more secure methods to lock down their accounts.
Faster, more secure backups
“Now, with just a tap or a glance, the same security that protects your personal chats and calls on WhatsApp is applied to your chat backups so they are always safe, accessible and private,” Meta wrote in its announcement.
Passkeys are a digital credential stored locally on your devices that can replace traditional passwords. This means WhatsApp users can use fingerprints, face, or screen lock codes already saved on their devices to encrypt and unlock their backups, “instead of having to memorize a password or a cumbersome 64-digit encryption key.”
Read More: Meta moves to rid WhatsApp of third-party AI chatbots for good
Meta said that these changes would roll out “gradually” over the coming weeks and months for both Android and iOS. You’ll need to keep a tight hold of your backups (or continue as you were) until the feature lands. When it does turn up, users must visit Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup to hook their accounts up. Stuff’s version 2.25.30.73 app has yet to receive the update.
