WhatsApp iPhone users may soon get the chance to login without a password

Passkeys are coming to WhatsApp on iOS

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It seems thatWhatsAppwill soon let iPhone users login to their accounts without a password.

Android users already have the feature, but wereteasedfirst with a beta version of the messaging app. Now, iOS users appear to be getting the same treatment.

As with the Android release, the new beta version of WhatsApp on iOS has a new menu setting for passkeys, according to a report fromWABetaInfo. The option doesn’t work yet, but the site claims it will be available to beta testers soon.

Expanding support

Passkeys are the new passwordless technology that are considered to be safer and more secure than passwords. They are phishing resistant, since the underlying cryptographic private key is stored on device and not known to anyone. Typically, alla user requires in the way of security is the method that locks their device, such as their fingerprint, face, or PIN.

The standards for the technology are governed by the FIDO Alliance, which has many big tech brands on its board, includingApple,Google,Microsoft, and Meta (the owner of WhatsApp).

On iPhone, passkeys can be saved to Apple’s Keychain, or, since iOS 17, to third-partypassword managersthat support passkeys. FaceID or TouchID can then be used to authenticate their use.

Last year, WhatsApp also added the ability for users to verify the use of the service via email rather than SMS, as an another way to bolster to security. You still need a phone number to use WhatsApp, though.

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Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he had experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience.

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