- By Prateek Levi
- Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
WhatsApp is strengthening user privacy once again—this time by introducing passkey-based encryption for chat backups. The new feature, which began rolling out on Thursday, allows users to lock their backups using the same security method already protecting their phones, such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or screen lock.
What’s Changing
Previously, users who wanted to secure their backups on Google Drive or iCloud had to create and remember a separate password or manage a 64-digit encryption key. With the new passkey option, WhatsApp links backup security directly to the device’s existing authentication system. A simple tap or glance is now enough to encrypt or restore your chat history.
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WhatsApp says this integration ensures privacy remains intact even if a phone is lost, stolen, or replaced. The rollout is happening in phases, so not everyone will get the update immediately. Once available, users can enable it by going to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup.
How Encryption Protects Users
WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption already ensures that messages and calls are visible only to the sender and recipient, with each message secured by a unique digital key that even WhatsApp can’t access. By shifting to passkey-based encryption, the app is reducing the complexity of securing chat data while maintaining the same level of privacy.
This update means users can protect years of messages, photos, and voice notes without worrying about storing long encryption keys or remembering backup passwords.
What About Business Chats?
Messages sent to business accounts are also encrypted using the same Signal encryption protocol before leaving a user’s device. However, once received, how a business manages that data depends on its own privacy policy. Some businesses might allow staff or third-party vendors to access these messages or use related data for advertising on Meta’s platforms.
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Why It Matters
This move marks another step toward making WhatsApp’s security more seamless and user-friendly. By tying encryption to built-in device security, the company is ensuring that privacy doesn’t come at the cost of convenience.