WhatsApp has announced a major update that allows users to access their encrypted chat backups using passkeys, enabling restoration through fingerprint, Face ID, or device screen lock.
According to the company, the new feature ensures that if users lose their devices, they can still securely retrieve their WhatsApp chats using biometric authentication or their screen lock code, instead of relying on passwords or long encryption keys.
Previously, encrypted backups depended on passwords or 64-character encryption keys, a system introduced in 2021 when Meta first implemented end-to-end encryption for chat backups. While it significantly enhanced security, it also created a risk of permanent data loss if users forgot their passwords or misplaced their encryption keys.
The new passkey system aims to fix that by simplifying secure access — tying authentication directly to the user’s device rather than a manually entered password.
WhatsApp, which surpassed 3 billion active users in May, said the feature will roll out globally over the coming weeks and months.
“This feature will be rolled out to users in the coming weeks and months, so you might have to keep an eye on when it becomes available to you,” the company stated.
Users can check if the feature is active by navigating to:
Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup, and looking for the “Use passkeys” option.
Meanwhile, checks by Nairametrics confirm that the passkey feature is already available in Nigeria, with several users successfully activating it through their WhatsApp settings.
The update comes as Meta continues to strengthen privacy and security across its platforms. In August, WhatsApp rolled out new safety tools designed to combat scams and fraud, banning over 6.8 million accounts linked to scam networks across multiple countries.
The company also revealed that it is collaborating with OpenAI to tackle AI-generated scam messages, a partnership that has already disrupted several fraudulent operations traced to Cambodia.
According to Meta, these initiatives are part of WhatsApp’s ongoing mission to make the platform safer, smarter, and more secure for its growing global user base.
