WhatsApp Just Launched a Major Security Upgrade: How to Protect Your Chat Backups with Passkeys
For years, WhatsApp has been praised for its robust end-to-end encryption (E2EE), ensuring that only you and the person you’re communicating with can read what’s sent. But a potential vulnerability has always existed not in the conversation itself, but in the backups of those conversations stored in the cloud. Now, a significant security enhancement is rolling out to address this: passkey protection for your chat backups.
This is a critical step forward in securing your entire chat history, and here’s everything you need to know about what it is, why it matters, and how to use it.
What Exactly Are Passkeys?
Before diving into the new feature, it’s important to understand what a passkey is. You’ve likely already used the technology without knowing the name. Passkeys are a modern, more secure alternative to passwords. Instead of a string of characters you have to remember, a passkey uses your device’s built-in security features to verify your identity.
A passkey is a cryptographic key stored securely on your device that uses your fingerprint, face scan, or device PIN to authenticate you. They are designed to be phishing-resistant, as there is no password to steal, and they make logging into accounts simpler and faster.
The New Layer of Protection for Your Chat History
While your live chats are end-to-end encrypted, your cloud backups on Google Drive or iCloud have been a separate security concern. If someone were to gain unauthorized access to your cloud account, they could potentially access your WhatsApp backup file.
To solve this, WhatsApp previously introduced an option for an end-to-end encrypted backup, which required a 64-digit key or a password that you had to remember. While highly secure, this could be cumbersome for many users.
The new update simplifies and strengthens this process. WhatsApp is now allowing you to use a passkey to protect your end-to-end encrypted chat backups stored in the cloud.
When you set up a new phone and want to restore your chat history from a backup, WhatsApp will now prompt you to verify your identity using your passkey. This means you’ll simply use your fingerprint, face, or device PIN to authorize the restoration. It’s not only easier than remembering a long password but also significantly more secure.
Why This Is a Major Security Win
This feature is more than just a convenience; it’s a fundamental security upgrade that closes a critical loophole.
- Protects Against Cloud Account Breaches: Even if a malicious actor gets the password to your Google or Apple account, they won’t be able to restore your WhatsApp chat history on a new device without your biometric or PIN authentication. Your chat history remains locked down and inaccessible.
- Simplifies High-Level Security: It makes top-tier security accessible to everyone. You no longer need to write down and hide a 64-digit key. The security is tied to the device and biometrics you use every day.
- Phishing-Resistant Verification: Because passkeys are tied to your device, they cannot be phished or stolen in the same way as traditional passwords. This adds a powerful layer of defense against common online scams.
Actionable Steps: How to Secure Your Backups
This feature is currently rolling out to users, so you may not see it immediately. However, you can check and enable it once it becomes available on your device.
Here is the general process for enabling end-to-end encrypted backups, where the new passkey option will appear:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap on Chats and then select Chat backup.
- Choose End-to-end encrypted backup and tap Turn on.
- Follow the on-screen prompts. You will be given the option to create a password or use a 64-digit encryption key. This is where the new option to use a passkey will be located.
- Select the passkey option and follow the instructions to link it to your device’s security (fingerprint, face, or PIN).
By taking a few moments to enable this feature, you add a formidable barrier against unauthorized access to your private conversations. It’s a simple action that provides a massive boost to your digital privacy, ensuring your chat history remains yours and yours alone.
Source: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/10/30/whatsapp-secure-chat-backups-passkeys/
