Until now, WhatsApp allowed users to keep their chat backups fully encrypted — which was great for security, but came with a big drawback. When switching to a new phone, restoring those backups required either a complex password or a 64-digit encryption key. Many users lost their chats simply because they forgot these long passwords.
WhatsApp is now solving this issue by introducing a new feature called “Passkey.”
With Passkey, you’ll no longer need to remember or enter long codes. Instead, when restoring your chats on a new device, you can simply:
Use your fingerprint
Scan your face (like Face ID)
Or enter your phone’s screen lock PIN.
In short, this update keeps your backups secure while making the restoration process incredibly simple.
WhatsApp says the new feature will roll out gradually to all users over the coming weeks and months, meaning not everyone will see it right away.
