This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
On November 6, 2019, WhatsApp introduced a new level of security for its Android users, a fingerprint lock.
This feature aims to protect users' personal chats from being seen by hackers, family members, or jilted lovers.
“Earlier this year, we rolled out Touch ID and Face ID for iPhone to provide an extra layer of security for WhatsApp users,” the micro-blogging platform said in a statement.
For Android users, the new feature requires users to scan a fingerprint to open up the Facebook-owned platform.
“Today we’re introducing similar authentication, allowing you to unlock the app with your fingerprint, on supported Android phones,” WhatsApp added.
The fingerprint lock on WhatsApp for Android works with phones that have a capacitive fingerprint sensor, and those that have an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Users can set up fingerprint lock on WhatsApp for Android by following these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Go to Account, then Privacy, and finally Fingerprint Lock.
- Turn on Unlock with Fingerprint.
- Set the duration after which you’ll have to use your fingerprint to unlock WhatsApp.
- Choose if you want to show the message content and sender in the notifications or not.
