Many of us store years of memories in our WhatsApp chats, photos, important conversations, and voice notes that mean more than words. Losing them can feel like losing a part of your story.
To help users protect these memories, WhatsApp has announced a new security feature, passkey-encrypted backups.
The platform, known for pioneering end-to-end encryption for messages and calls, is now extending that same protection to chat backups. This means your old messages remain private and secure, even when backed up to the cloud.
The new feature introduces passkeys, a simpler, more secure way to lock your backups. Instead of remembering a password or managing a 64-digit encryption key, users can now use their fingerprint, facial recognition, or screen lock PIN to encrypt chat backups.
With this update, WhatsApp users can enjoy the same seamless security used to protect their chats and calls now applied to their backups. A quick tap or glance is all it takes to keep your messages safe, accessible, and private.
According to WhatsApp, the rollout will happen gradually over the next few weeks and months.
To enable it, go to:
Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup
This move reinforces WhatsApp’s ongoing commitment to user privacy and data protection, giving users more control, convenience, and confidence in how their information is stored.