WhatsApp’s New Update Lets You Secure Backups With Biometrics: Here's How It Works

Meta-owned WhatsApp is finally making chat backups smarter and more user-friendly. Forget those long 64-digit encryption keys or complex passwords you set months ago and promptly forgot; the US-based messaging giant is introducing passkey-encrypted backups, a feature designed to make privacy effortless and secure. Until now, users who wanted end-to-end encrypted backups had to create a unique password or store a lengthy key safely, a process that, while secure, was anything but convenient. But that’s changing for good. Here's all you need to know.What’s Changing With Passkey EncryptionInstead of relying on passwords, WhatsApp will now use your phone’s built-in security features- like fingerprint, Face ID, or screen lock, to protect your chat backups.

It’s the same system you already use to unlock your phone or approve payments, now applied to your WhatsApp data. This means your chats, photos, and voice notes are protected by the same biometric tools you already trust. The real victory here is how seamless the process feels. WhatsApp’s new backup system merges strong encryption with effortless usability. For anyone who’s ever been locked out of their backups because of a forgotten password (and let’s be honest, that’s most of us), this update is a welcome relief.How It WorksOnce you enable the feature, WhatsApp links your backup encryption to your device’s security credentials. So, if you switch phones or reinstall WhatsApp, you won’t need to dig through old notes looking for a password. Just unlock your device as usual and your chats will be restored in seconds. WhatsApp claims that your backup remains end-to-end encrypted, meaning neither WhatsApp nor your cloud provider (Google Drive or iCloud) can access your messages.ALSO READ: Jio Users To Get FREE Google Gemini Pro Plan, 2TB Cloud Storage For 18 Months: Check EligibilityRolling Out SoonWhatsApp confirmed that passkey-encrypted backups will roll out globally over the next few weeks and months. Once available, users can enable it by heading to Settings -- Chats -- Chat Backup -- End-to-End Encrypted Backup.