WhatsApp Users Now Can Say Goodbye to SMS Two-factor Authentication

Jakarta – WhatsApp to introduce passkey feature in Android. This new feature allows WhatsApp users to use their device's face, fingerprint, or pin security to unlock and access their accounts. 

This means WhatsApp users on Android can say goodbye to annoying SMS two-factor authentication. 

After initially testing passkey support in beta, WhatsApp is now starting to roll it out to all Android users. The company said that the support will roll out over the next few weeks and months. WhatsApp did not share any details about an iOS launch.

By enabling passkey log-ins, you make it harder for bad actors to remotely access your accounts since they would also need physical access to your phone. 

Passkeys are a relatively new technology that removes the need to rely on username and password combinations, which can be susceptible to phishing and other issues.

"Android users can easily and securely log back in using passkey, only with your face, fingerprint or pin can unlock your WhatsApp account," wrote the official @WhatsApp account on the X platform on Thursday. 

While not many companies have adopted passkey technology yet, more and more companies are doing so. For example, TikTok launched passkey support on the iOS platform in July, while PayPal brought a similar feature to iOS in October 2022. 

Recently, Google also made passkey the default sign-in method for all users after previously bringing passkey support for Google accounts globally in May. In addition, Amazon has also rolled out passkey support, although there are some caveats to note.

WhatsApp's announcement comes amidst a series of new features that have been introduced in recent months. WhatsApp recently launched "Flows" to improve users' shopping experience by allowing them to do things like select seats on a flight or book an appointment without having to leave the app.