WhatsApp has announced the official rollout of passkey support for its app, at least for Android users. The company was sighted testing this feature on some beta versions earlier this year but now, it is making passwordless logins available for all its users on Android.
The feature can be found in your settings under the Account tab. From there, it will ask you if you wish to create a passkey using your phone’s facial recognition scanner, fingerprint scanner, or screen lock. This will verify your identity and will enable you to log into your account without typing any passwords or SMS codes.
You will also be able to manage your passkeys and can revoke them at any time. According to the app’s FAQ, you will need a phone running on Android 9 or later to use this feature and you will need to have your lock screen set up and your Google account linked. If you previously created a passkey and are reinstalling WhatsApp on your phone, it will give you the option to use that key at registration.
While this is undeniably a good step towards a passwordless future in our digital landscape, the Meta-owned app has not specified when the feature will be released for iOS users. For now, Android users can set it up by ensuring they update to the latest version of the app.
(Source: WhatsApp)
