WhatsApp on Thursday (October 30, 2025) announced it will introduce a new method for users to access their encrypted chat backups with passkey support. The passkey will allow users to encrypt their chat backups using their fingerprint, face or screen lock code instead of them having to remember a password or a 64-digit encryption key. 

The platform had initially rolled out the option for users to encrypt their chat backups to the cloud in 2021. Users can enable the encrypted passkeys under Settings tab. They will have to turn up the ‘End-to-end encrypted backup’ option in the ‘Chats’ option, which is under ‘Chat backup’. 

This update will be rolled out gradually for all users in the coming weeks. 

In April, WhatsApp introduced a new advanced privacy feature for users in both individual and group chats that lets only the sender and the recipient see the texts.