Overview
- The feature is launching globally in a phased release that will reach users over the coming weeks and months.
- Users can enable it by going to Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup.
- Passkeys let devices encrypt and unlock backups using biometrics or a screen-lock code instead of a password or 64‑digit key.
- The system uses FIDO2/WebAuthn standards that keep private keys on the device while encrypted backups continue to reside in iCloud or Google Drive.
- WhatsApp’s end-to-end encrypted backups introduced in 2021 required a saved password or key, and restorations now work with the passkey used to encrypt the backup.