WhatsApp revealed its plan to introduce passkey support for users to securely access the app using an authentication method. Initially, this feature was available only to WhatsApp users on Android. However, there are indications that Meta is now working on bringing passkey support to WhatsApp on iPhone.
According to WABetaInfo, the newest version of WhatsApp beta for iPhone, launched on TestFlight, introduces a new menu for setting the passkey. Although the service is not yet live, the site suggests that it will soon be accessible to beta users. Passkey technology, developed by the FIDO Alliance in collaboration with major companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, enables users to log in using secure authentication methods such as facial recognition or biometrics, eliminating the need to create and type a password. With the introduction of iOS 16, users were able to create and save keys using Safari and iCloud Keychain. The upcoming iOS 17 will extend this capability to third-party apps. On Apple devices, the passcode can be used with Face ID or Touch ID.
In November, WhatsApp released an update that allows users to authenticate in the app using email verification instead of SMS. The platform has also been rolling out a new feature that allows users to set a shared username instead of a phone number, and an iPad app is in development.
WhatsApp is currently available for free on the App Store and requires an iPhone running iOS 12 or later (although the navigation keys require iOS 17 or later).
