WhatsApp users have different ways to protect their accounts, such as using passwords and two-factor authentication. Soon, they will have another option: passkeys. Passkeys are a new, more secure way to sign in without typing passwords. WhatsApp is working to implement this feature, which many apps and websites already support.
WABetaInfo found a hidden menu in the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android. The menu says: "You can now use your fingerprint, face, or screen lock to verify if it's you with a passkey." The feature is not ready yet, but it shows that WhatsApp users may soon be able to use passkeys instead of passwords.
Passkeys are part of an industry-wide effort to create a better authentication system. The technology was developed by FIDO Alliance, a consortium of tech companies including Apple, Google, and Microsoft. With passkeys, users can sign in with facial recognition or biometrics without creating or typing passwords.