Last week, Google announced that passwords would become the default authentication method for its users on personal accounts. In that announcement, Google also said support for passwords was increasing, listing some of the companies that had already enabled them on their apps and websites, with a mention of WhatsApp as one of those that would add compatibility soon.
This confirmed earlier reports that
WhatsApp had already tested this feature with its beta users and that it would be linked to Google’s password manager.
Today, WhatsApp finally announced that password support is now official for its Android users, who can now use their device’s screen lock method to unlock their accounts, such as their face , their fingerprint or the PIN code of their device.
Previously, WhatsApp implemented an optional two-step verification PIN and fingerprint lock feature that users could set to trigger automatically after a set duration. This type of authentication is not removed from the application, but now joined by passwords, providing an additional layer of security.
Although password support has now been made public by the company, it appears that the feature is not yet available on the latest stable version of the
app (v2.23.20.76). However, it definitely works in the latest beta version (v2.23.21.12) for people enrolled in the
WhatsApp beta program.
The signup process is quick and easy because it uses the screen lock method you already use on your phone. Additionally, through this registration process, you learn that your newly created password is actually stored in Google’s password manager, allowing it to be used on other devices you are logged in on to your Google account. It is unclear at this time if an app update is coming for the stable version of the app, or if the feature will be rolled out in stages via a server push.
