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WhatsApp Adds 3 New Security Features: WhatsApp has introduced a new set of account security features aimed at making account takeovers more difficult and helping users make better decisions about calls from unknown numbers. The changes include support for multiple passkeys, stronger two-step verification using full passwords, and additional information about unknown callers on Android.
WhatsApp announced the updates on August 25, 2026. The company also revealed that more than one billion people have already set up passkeys on the messaging platform.
WhatsApp Now Supports Multiple Passkeys
One of the biggest changes is the ability to add more than one passkey to the same WhatsApp account.
Passkeys allow users to verify their identity and log back into WhatsApp using security methods already available on their device, such as a fingerprint, facial recognition or the device’s screen-lock code. This reduces reliance on traditional codes and PINs.
WhatsApp says more than one billion people have already set up a passkey.
The multiple-passkey option is particularly useful for people who use their WhatsApp account across Android and iOS devices. They can now have more than one passkey associated with the account instead of relying on a single one.
Users can access the passkey option through:
WhatsApp → Settings → Account → Passkeys
Two-Step Verification Gets a Stronger Password Option
WhatsApp is also strengthening its two-step verification system.
Until now, the feature relied on a six-digit PIN. WhatsApp has upgraded it to support a full password that can be longer and contain letters, numbers and special characters.
Two-step verification provides an additional layer of account protection. It is designed to make an account harder to take over even if another person manages to obtain the user’s one-time verification code.
A longer and less predictable password can therefore provide stronger protection than an easily guessed numerical PIN.
Users should still choose a unique password rather than reusing a password already associated with another important account.
Unknown WhatsApp Calls Get More Context on Android
Android users are also getting additional information when an incoming WhatsApp call comes from a number that is not saved in their contacts.
WhatsApp says the incoming-call screen can provide details such as:
- whether the number is from a different country; and
- whether the caller and recipient have any WhatsApp groups in common.
This information can help a user assess an unfamiliar call before deciding whether to answer it.
For example, an unexpected international number with no shared groups may warrant additional caution. A caller with a shared group, meanwhile, may provide useful context about how the person could know the recipient.
Importantly, these details do not prove whether a caller is genuine or fraudulent. Users should still be cautious about unexpected requests for money, OTPs, passwords or personal information.
How Is This Different From ‘Silence Unknown Callers’?
The new caller-context feature should not be confused with WhatsApp’s existing Silence Unknown Callers option.
WhatsApp introduced Silence Unknown Callers in 2023. When enabled, calls from unknown people do not ring on the phone, although they continue to appear in the user’s call list.
The latest Android feature takes a different approach. It provides more context about an unfamiliar caller so that users have additional information before deciding how to respond.
The two protections can therefore serve different purposes: one reduces disruption from unknown calls, while the other helps users evaluate them.
Why These WhatsApp Security Changes Matter
Account takeover and impersonation scams frequently depend on persuading users to reveal verification information or react quickly to an unexpected communication.
WhatsApp says two-step verification is intended to protect an account even when someone obtains its one-time passcode. The new full-password option makes that additional security credential harder to guess.
The caller-context feature addresses another aspect of scams: urgency. Instead of seeing only an unfamiliar number, Android users may now have additional information available before answering.
WhatsApp’s Help Center also advises users to be cautious when unfamiliar contacts ask for money or personal information, impersonate someone they know, or make suspicious offers involving jobs, loans or investments.
Are the New Features Available on Both Android and iPhone?
Not all three changes have identical platform availability.
Multiple passkeys are intended for users who use Android and iOS devices, while stronger two-step verification is also being introduced more broadly. The additional unknown-caller context announced in this update is specifically for Android.
Availability can also depend on the rollout reaching a particular account and app version.
What WhatsApp Users Should Check
Users interested in improving their account security can check Settings → Account → Passkeys and review their two-step verification settings.
Android users should also look for the additional contextual information when receiving WhatsApp calls from numbers outside their contacts.
These protections do not eliminate scams, but they give users additional tools to protect their accounts and assess unfamiliar callers. As the new features roll out, the most important change for users will be stronger account verification combined with more information before responding to unknown contacts.
FAQs on WhatsApp Adds 3 New Security Features
1. What are the new WhatsApp security features?
WhatsApp has announced multiple passkeys per account, stronger password-based two-step verification, and additional contextual information for unknown callers on Android.Â
2. Can I add more than one passkey to WhatsApp?
Yes. WhatsApp now supports more than one passkey for an account, particularly useful for people using both Android and iOS devices.Â
3. How many people use WhatsApp passkeys?
WhatsApp says more than one billion people have already set up a passkey.Â
4. Has WhatsApp removed the six-digit two-step verification PIN?
WhatsApp has upgraded two-step verification to support a longer full password containing letters, numbers and special characters.Â
5. What information does WhatsApp show about unknown callers?
On Android, WhatsApp can show whether an unfamiliar caller’s number is from another country and whether the user shares any groups with that caller.Â
6. Is the new unknown-caller feature available on iPhone?
The caller-context feature announced in this update is specifically described by WhatsApp as an Android feature.Â
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