Meta Corporation has released a beta variant of WhatsApp for iOS that introduces Passkey authentication, enabling users to switch from passcodes to biometric verification using Face ID and Touch ID. This update was reported by 9to5Mac, citing information from WABetaInfo.
Passkey is a login standard developed by the FIDO Alliance in collaboration with major tech players like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. It replaces traditional passwords with simple, secure authentication methods such as facial recognition, eliminating the need to create and manage passwords across different services.
With iOS 16, Apple users gained the ability to create and store passwords through Safari and iCloud Keychain. The release of iOS 17 expanded these capabilities to work with third‑party apps, paving the way for broader Passkey support beyond a single ecosystem.
To try Passkey on WhatsApp, users must install the beta version of the app with build number 24.2.10.73. It is not yet clear when this feature will be available in the publicly released version of WhatsApp.
There has been ongoing discussion in Russia about securing communications on popular messaging platforms, including Telegram and WhatsApp, highlighting the growing interest in passwordless authentication and biometric login methods.