WhatsApp Enhances Chat Backup Security with Passkey Encryption
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature that allows users to secure their chat backups using passkey encryption, enhancing the protection of personal conversations and media. This update enables users to safeguard their end-to-end encrypted backups through biometric methods such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or device screen locks, ensuring seamless access even after device loss or replacement.
Announced on October 29, 2025, this development addresses a longstanding concern for WhatsApp’s extensive user base, which exceeds three billion individuals. Many users store years of photos, voice notes, and conversations in backups on platforms like Google Drive or iCloud. The introduction of passkey encryption simplifies the process of protecting these backups without the need to remember complex passwords.
Understanding Passkey Encryption
Passkeys represent an evolution in passwordless authentication, utilizing device-specific biometrics to generate unique cryptographic keys that remain securely stored on the user’s hardware. Unlike the previous system introduced in 2021, which required a custom password or a cumbersome 64-digit encryption key, this new method integrates directly with the phone’s built-in security features, offering effortless encryption.
With this feature, users can encrypt their backups with a simple tap or glance, applying the same robust end-to-end encryption that safeguards live chats and calls against access by WhatsApp, its parent company Meta, or third-party cloud providers. This innovation not only enhances convenience but also reduces risks associated with forgotten credentials, which previously could lock users out of their data entirely.
Enhanced Security Against Cyber Threats
Security experts highlight that passkeys are more resistant to phishing and credential stuffing attacks than traditional passwords, making them a forward-thinking choice for mobile messaging. With cyber threats escalating, including recent spyware exploits targeting messaging apps, protecting stored data has never been more critical. WhatsApp’s encrypted backups ensure that personal memories and sensitive exchanges remain private, even if a device is compromised or stolen.
This feature builds on the platform’s pioneering 2021 rollout of end-to-end encryption for backups, which now secures over 100 billion daily messages for two billion users. By eliminating reliance on easily lost keys, passkeys democratize advanced security, empowering non-technical users to maintain privacy without compromising on protection.
Industry Alignment and Deployment
This move aligns with broader industry trends toward biometric and zero-knowledge authentication, potentially setting a standard for other apps handling personal data. The passkey encryption will deploy gradually worldwide on iOS and Android over the coming weeks and months, starting with the latest app versions. To enable it, users should navigate to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup and select the passkey option.
WhatsApp encourages immediate updates to stay ahead of the rollout, emphasizing that this enhancement keeps backups as secure and accessible as everyday chats.
