WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.22.10.71: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new iOS update through the TestFlight beta Program, bringing the version up to 25.22.10.71.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to configure a username key, and it will be available in a future update!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.18.10.70 update, we announced that an advanced username feature with PIN support was under development. This feature will allow users to create a unique username as an alternative to sharing their phone number, making interactions more private. The optional Username PIN acts as an additional security layer, requiring first-time contacts to enter the correct code before they can send a message. This ensures that users have full control over who can initiate conversations with them via their username, helping to prevent unwanted or unsolicited contacts. Today, WhatsApp is actively refining the username feature with updates designed to make the setup process more intuitive in the future. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.22.10.71 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature that allows users to configure a username key!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring a feature that will allow users to set a key to protect their username from unwanted first-time messages. This feature is scheduled for release in a future update while WhatsApp keeps refining the username system to ensure better privacy, usability, and control over how users are contacted for the first time. The username key is essentially the same as what was previously referred to as the username PIN. The functionality remains unchanged, as WhatsApp has just decided to rename it for better clarity ahead of the official release.

When a user sets a username for their account, this makes them reachable by anyone who knows the username, including people who may try to guess it. For example, if someone chooses an easy or predictable username, they might receive unwanted messages from strangers who manage to guess it correctly. In some cases, this exposure could force users to remove the username from their account altogether. This is exactly why WhatsApp had been planning to introduce an additional code for first-time interactions. This will be an optional barrier that users can choose to enable on their account, ensuring that only people who know both the username and the correct code can initiate contact.

Enabling a username key will be useful if users want to keep their username public but only allow access to certain people who have received the code directly. On the other hand, not enabling a username key might be better for users who want to stay easily reachable by anyone using just their username without any barrier. These contrasting approaches reflect different privacy preferences, giving users the flexibility to tailor their account settings based on how open or restricted they want their communication to be.

To avoid confusion, WhatsApp has decided to rename the feature from "PIN" to "key". The reasoning behind this change is clear: a PIN is usually a private code used for personal authentication, while in this case, the key is needed to enable first-time communication through the username. Additionally, some users may have been tempted to use a part of their two-step verification PIN as their username PIN, due to the similarity in terminology. With the new naming, WhatsApp highlights the important difference between these two codes, helping users make better security decisions.

As previously announced in our article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.22.9 update, users will be able to manually choose the username key from their profile settings. In this article, we want to showcase a second approach to generate the key, where the app automatically provides a code instead of allowing users to pick one. This method will help ensure stronger security by preventing users from choosing weak codes that are easy to guess, like repetitive or sequential numbers. By automatically generating the code, WhatsApp aims to reduce the risk of unauthorized access due to predictable keys.

Users will still have the option to generate a different key if they wish to change it later, and they can manage this code at any time. This approach will add an extra layer of security and ensure that the username feature does not compromise user privacy, even as it opens new doors for more flexible communication. This also suggests that WhatsApp is testing two different methods to choose the key, and it's still unclear whether the final version will allow manual selection on both systems or stick with automatic generation.

A feature that allows users to configure a username key is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app. We will keep you updated on any further developments about this feature until it's officially released.

Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on X where you can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.

Do you like this news? Please, let us know on X: we love hearing your feedback! If you're curious to see where you can find WABetaInfo, there is a dedicated page where you can discover our services.
In addition, we have set up a Discord Server where you can chat with other people, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest announcements from WABetaInfo.