WhatsApp will soon get passkey support, says Google

Google is making it easier than ever for people to switch to passkeys, a more secure and convenient way to sign in to accounts online. That means, some popular apps like WhatsApp are getting their passkey support soon.

As announced in an official blog post, starting today, passkeys will be the default option for personal Google Accounts. This means that users will be prompted to create and use passkeys the next time they sign in to their account.

“Passkey verification will make logging back into WhatsApp easier and more secure. We’re excited to launch this on WhatsApp and give users an added layer of security,” says WhatsApp’s head of product, Alice Newton-Rex.

Passkeys are a new type of authentication that is phishing-resistant and easier to use than passwords. To use a passkey, users simply need to unlock their device with their fingerprint, face scan, or PIN. 

They are also faster than passwords, with Google reporting that they are 40% faster than traditional password-based sign-ins.

YouTube, Search, and Maps are some of the apps that got their passkeys support first from Google earlier this year. Then, Uber and eBay followed suit, which will soon be followed by WhatsApp.