WhatsApp launches new feature for iPhone users

   ‘Passkeys’ feature for iPhones by                         WhatsApp 

The new feature will make WhatsApp chats more secure and safe. You can now access WhatsApp on iPhone using passcodes or face ids. WhatsApp is about to become a lot easier to log in on an iPhone, thanks to a new feature that’s being rolled out, as reported. WhatsApp’s ‘Passkeys’ tool for iPhones will simplify the login process by eliminating the need for OTPs. 

WhatsApp launches new ‘Passkeys’ feature for iPhones. Meta owned by Mark Zuckerberg announced the new update earlier this week via a post on X, which reads: "Passkeys are rolling out now on iOS…a more secure (and easier!) way to log back in with Face ID, Touch I or your passcode." This new feature will make WhatsApp chats more secure and safe by allowing users to log in to the application with either face ids, touch ids or passcodes.

The tool will simplify the login process by eliminating the need for SMS-based one-time passwords (OTPs). With Passkeys enabled, iPhone users can securely access their WhatsApp accounts using TouchID, FaceID, or their device passcode. Although the company did not specify which IOS will get the feature, reports suggest it is compatible with iOS 17 and onwards. A passkey is a more secure alternative to traditional login methods such as SMS verification which takes ages to appear at times.

Compared to traditional OTP-based methods, WhatsApp touts Passkeys as a more secure login alternative. Users can set up Passkeys from the app’s Settings menu, by navigating to Account > Passkeys. Previously, users could access WhatsApp with a face id or passcode, however, this new feature works by storing authentication information on our device and pairing it up with the information saved up on our device to match it. Once configured, they can effortlessly use FaceID or TouchID to log into their WhatsApp accounts. 

Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s head of product in a statement, said, "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." It’s important to note that WhatsApp has long supported biometric authentication for protecting chats. Passkeys take this a step further, allowing users to access their accounts seamlessly without external verification. The ‘Passkeys’ feature was initially introduced for Android smartphones and is now gradually rolling out to iOS users. The feature should be available to all users in the near future.