WhatsApp rolls out stronger account passwords: no more six-digit PIN

WhatsApp is rolling out a big security change: the app is moving away from its old six-digit PIN for two-step verification and replacing it with longer passwords that can include letters, numbers, and special characters.

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The update also lets you add more than one passkey to the same account across Android and iOS devices, using your fingerprint, Face ID, or screen lock. WhatsApp says more than 1 billion people have already turned on passkeys, and this setup should make account access safer while giving you something better than a single recovery option if your phone gets lost or stolen.

On Android, WhatsApp is adding more context to calls from unknown numbers, including the caller’s country and whether you have any groups in common. The company says that should make it easier to catch phishing attempts, impersonation, SIM-swap scams, and malicious QR-code tricks, which still hit users in markets like India and Brazil.

If you use WhatsApp a lot, this is an update worth installing. It tightens security at the user and device level, not only in the app’s end-to-end encryption.

You can download WhatsApp from Apple’s App Store and Google Play, though the expanded call details are only on Android right now.