WhatsApp has added three new ways to keep your account safe. Meta announced the update on August 25, 2026. The goal is simple: make it harder for someone else to break into your account, and help you spot scam calls before you even pick up.
Here is what changed.
Two-Step Verification Now Needs a Full Password
Until now, WhatsApp’s two-step verification used a six-digit PIN. This PIN worked as a backup lock, so even if someone got your one-time code, they still needed the PIN to take over your account.
That PIN is now a full password. It can have letters, numbers, and special characters like @ or $. A longer, mixed password is much harder for anyone to guess than a simple six-digit number.
If your PIN is something easy like “123456,” this is a good time to change it to a stronger password.
Android Users Get More Details on Unknown Calls
Scam calls are one of the biggest tricks used to break into WhatsApp accounts. To fight this, WhatsApp now shows extra details when a call comes in from a number that isn’t saved in your phone.
On Android, you’ll now see things like whether the number is calling from another country, and whether you share any WhatsApp groups with that number. This information shows up right on the call screen, before you answer.
Scammers usually push people to act fast without thinking. This small delay, and the extra detail, gives you a chance to pause and decide if the call looks real.
You Can Now Save More Than One Passkey
A passkey lets you log back into WhatsApp using your fingerprint, Face ID, or your phone’s screen lock, instead of typing a code or password. Meta says more than one billion people already use a passkey on WhatsApp.
Until now, you could only save one passkey per account. Now you can add more than one. This helps if you switch between an Android phone and an iPhone, since each device can have its own passkey saved.
To add a passkey:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
- Tap Account
- Tap Passkeys and follow the steps on screen
Why This Matters
WhatsApp already protects your chats with end-to-end encryption, so no one in between can read your messages. But encryption only protects the messages themselves. It doesn’t stop someone from taking over your account another way, like guessing a weak PIN or tricking you on a phone call.
These three changes are aimed at closing that gap. Some users may see them roll out sooner than others, since Meta is releasing the features in stages. If you don’t see the new password option or passkey settings yet, update your WhatsApp app and check again in a few days.
