WhatsApp has been internally testing passkey support in its iPhone apps for some time. However, this option was not yet available to most users. However, things seem to be changing as Meta is gradually rolling out a passkey option for his WhatsApp users on his iPhone with the latest version of the app.
Passkey is now enabled for iPhone users of WhatsApp
As noted by Engadget, Meta confirmed that his iPhone users also have the option to enable a passkey to protect his WhatsApp account. The feature was first introduced to Android users in October last year. According to Meta, this feature will be available to all WhatsApp users in the coming weeks.
“Passkey verification will make logging back into WhatsApp easier and more secure. We’re excited to launch this on WhatsApp and give users an added layer of security,” Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s head of product, said in a statement.
To enable a passkey for your WhatsApp account, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp
- Go to Settings
- Tap Account
- Choose Passkeys
- Tap Create Passkey
- Confirm with Face ID or Touch ID
More information about passkeys
Passkey is a technology developed by the FIDO Alliance in collaboration with leading companies such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Instead of traditional passwords, users can log in using secure methods such as facial recognition and biometrics, eliminating the need to create and enter passcodes.
Apple introduced passkey support in iOS 16, but integration with third-party apps wasn’t added until iOS 17. Passkeys can be synced via iCloud Keychain or a compatible password manager such as his 1Password.