WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that allows users to verify if the password for their end-to-end encrypted backups is correct, so they can replace it in case of an incorrect match. This feature is available to some users installing the latest versions of WhatsApp for iOS and Android.
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Password reminder |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp for iOS 23.9.77 and WhatsApp for Android 2.23.9.74 are marked as compatible updates. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some users, and it is rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Kingcyrious and AnonymousWP, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp news of the week: chat lock available on WhatsApp for iOS and Android! |
PASSWORD REMINDER
Two years ago, WhatsApp announced end-to-end encrypted backups in a blog post. With this feature, people can secure their backup using end-to-end encryption by choosing a personal password or a 64-digit encryption key that only they know. In fact, neither WhatsApp nor the backup service provider (Apple and Google) will be able to read encrypted backups or access the key required to unlock them. Note that WhatsApp already used its own encryption techniques to encrypt the database within the backup in the past, but it was not end-to-end encrypted.
People can definitely experimenting with an advanced layer of privacy by enabling end-to-end encrypted backups. However, some users have lost access to their encrypted backup because they couldn’t remember the password they had chosen. For this reason, WhatsApp developed a feature that allows the user to verify if the password is correct, and it is available after installing one of the latest versions of WhatsApp for iOS and Android.
As you can see in this screenshot, you may be prompted to enter the password you chose to encrypt your backups on Google Drive and iCloud. This feature works as a reminder, so that you can confirm your password is correct. There is no way to force the prompt to appear as it may automatically show up on certain occasions. Note that a similar feature is already available to verify if your 6-digit code for two-step verification is correct.
In case you don’t remember the password, you can easily disable end-to-end encrypted backups and then reactivate them with a new password. We think this is a very important feature as many users have enabled encrypted backups but, once they reinstalled WhatsApp, they were unable to restore their chat history because they couldn’t remember their password. Thanks to the password reminder, users will be able to check if they remember their password, and if not, replace it by reconfiguring the feature.
The password reminder feature for end-to-end encrypted backups is available after installing one of the latest versions of WhatsApp for iOS from the App Store and WhatsApp for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.
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