WhatsApp Rolling Out Two-Step Verification Security Feature to All Users - MacRumors
Skip to Content

WhatsApp Rolling Out Two-Step Verification Security Feature to All Users

by

whatsappWhatsApp is in the process of rolling out a two-step verification feature for the messaging platform from today. The security option has been in testing for several months, but is finally going live for all users of the app.

With the optional feature, WhatsApp users will be able to securely verify their number with a custom-generated six-digit passcode whenever they install the app on a new device. To activate the security feature, users should open the app and tap through to Settings -> Account -> Two-step verification -> Enable.

Upon enabling the feature, users are asked if they want to enter their email address. This is used by WhatsApp to send a link via email to disable two-step verification in case the six-digit passcode is forgotten, and also to help safeguard the account.

To help users remember their passcode, WhatsApp will periodically ask them for it. There is no option to disable this without disabling the two-step verification feature.

WhatsApp is available as a free download on the App Store for iPhone. [Direct Link]

Tag: WhatsApp

Top Rated Comments

Frederik on MacRumors Avatar
Frederik on MacRumors
120 months ago
Collecting email addresses to better match people to existing data?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RamRS Avatar
RamRS
120 months ago
Email is optional..
I see you insist on making this point to everyone individually. Yes, email is optional, but it is the easier, more stable, less memory-dependent/human error-prone option. If they seriously values privacy, they would have gone with an authenticator application, and so would Facebook. Why force users to choose between trust-your-memory-to-never-fail-you vs give me your email address?

Seriously, f*** WhatsApp and f*** Facebook.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
joy.757
120 months ago
Cool, but I'd have liked a Google authenticator like service, rather than remembering another passcode.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
C DM
120 months ago
For alot of jobs your Facebook profile is reviewed prior to getting an interview or after the 1st interview.
How does that work if/when you practically don't have anything on it that's public?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
m.x Avatar
m.x
120 months ago
Collecting email addresses to better match people to existing data?
Seems very likely. If a Facebook user opted out of sharing data with WhatApp, but uses the same mail address for 2FA, it's now possible to identify him on WhatsApp. Heck, they could even try to match the telephone numbers of the people most talked to on WhatsApp with the profiles most talked to on Facebook to create even larger databases about the people who never opted in to data sharing. It's sad to see that privacy is being attacked more and more. And in a not too distant future you'll have to have a good Facebook profile to be allowed to travel, just like that Black Mirror episode and everybody will be wondering how it all came to this...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
CarpalMac
120 months ago
Telegram deployed this on the 8th April, 2015.

https://telegram.org/blog/sessions-and-2-step-verification


Perhaps the Whatsapp are struggling for cash to pay their developers...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

whatsapp carplay

WhatsApp Gets New CarPlay App

Tuesday April 7, 2026 4:32 pm PDT by
Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp was today updated with expanded support for CarPlay. CarPlay users are able to more easily call and message their friends and family members in WhatsApp directly from the car interface. WhatsApp had CarPlay integration before, but with limited Siri-based functionality. The new app has a full native CarPlay interface with a list of recent chats and call...
Read Full Article • 36 comments
Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp Testing Paid 'Plus' Subscription Tier – Here's What's Included

Tuesday April 21, 2026 6:22 am PDT by
WhatsApp has started testing a paid subscription tier called WhatsApp Plus, which adds a set of personalization options on top of the standard messaging experience, according to WABetaInfo. The paid plan Meta is testing appears to be geared towards hardcore users who spend a lot of time in the app: subscribers get access to premium sticker packs with fullscreen overlay animations (visible to ...
Read Full Article • 38 comments
MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens

Apple to Launch 'MacBook Ultra' With These Six New Features

Friday April 24, 2026 10:32 am PDT by
While the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro were just updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month, bigger changes are reportedly around the corner. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the higher-end MacBook Pro models will be receiving a major redesign by early 2027, and he said that Apple might use "MacBook Ultra" branding for them. If so, the MacBook Ultra would likely be a...
Read Full Article • 107 comments