How to set up a WhatsApp passkey and ditch passwords for good

The platform will no longer require cumbersome security steps like two-factor authentication
WhatsApp is the latest platform to offer support for passkeys
PA Wire
Saqib Shah17 October 2023

WhatsApp has a new security feature that can ensure no one can access the app apart from you.

The platform is the latest to offer support for passkeys, which let you sign in using your fingerprint, facial recognition, or screen lock pin.

Adopted by big tech companies like Apple and Google, passkeys essentially do away with usernames and passwords. They also mean you don’t have to go through cumbersome security steps like two-factor authentication. 

Here’s how you can set up your own passkey once the feature arrives on your phone.

Are WhatsApp passkeys available on iPhone?

At launch, WhatsApp is only offering the ability to sign in with a passkey on Android, and specifically phones with Android 9 or later. 

But don’t fret! It’s virtually guaranteed that the feature will come to iPhones in the future as Apple already offers passkey support for a bunch of apps. To enable it, you’ll need an iPhone that runs at least iOS 16, which rules out models including the iPhone 7 and older.

How to set up a WhatsApp passkey

Before you can create a passkey on Android, you need to ensure that your Google account is linked to your phone, your lock screen is set up, and you have the latest version of Google Play Store installed.

With those steps completed, open WhatsApp and head to the settings (tap the three dots at the top right-hand side of the app on the “chats” page > choose “settings” from the drop-down menu).

Now, tap passkeys > create a passkey > continue. Here, you may be asked to tap “Use screen lock to create your passkey”.

You’ll also get the option to create a passkey after registering your phone number during the setup phase.

It’s important to note that the feature is currently rolling out on Android, so it may take a little while to reach you.

What are passkeys?

Tech giants have pegged on to the public’s frustration with passwords. Not only is it hard to keep track of all those log-in details based on birthdays, sports teams or pet names, but they can also expose you to security lapses. Password fatigue has led to people regurgitating the same codes for multiple apps and services, opening the public and businesses up to data breaches, hacks and extortion attempts.

To deal with the problem, a gaggle of tech companies (including Microsoft, Google and Apple) recently embraced a new sign-in standard called passkeys. In a nutshell, they allow you to log into your accounts on computers and phones using biometrics like a fingerprint or face scan, or a screen lock PIN. Passkeys are said to be faster, more reliable, and more secure than passwords. They also work across all of your Apple or Android devices over the cloud, and can be shared with other people.

Behind the scenes, the feature is powered by a technique known as public-key cryptography. This is essentially a method of hiding (or encrypting) data so that only the intended person can use it. 

As their name implies, passkeys rely on a set of keys: your device holds a private key that then pairs with a public key on an app or website. These keys are like long secret codes composed of a bunch of scrambled-up letters and numbers that only your device knows. Nobody can see your passkey, including websites and apps. They can just ensure you’re using the right key by using a public key on their end.

Fast forward to today, and several companies already support passkeys as a way to sign in to their services, including TikTok, PayPal, Nintendo, and now WhatsApp. For its part, Google has declared that passkeys represent the death of passwords and multi-factor authentication.

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