WhatsApp Beta for Android Finally Gets Fingerprint Lock Feature

Coming to the new feature, WhatsApp Beta users with 2.19.3 update will be able to see a new option called ‘Authentication’ inside the Privacy section of the app. Tapping on Authentication will display a screen where users will have to produce their registered fingerprint on the phone to enable the security feature. After enabling the feature, every time the users opens WhatsApp, it will ask for authentication via the registered fingerprint to unlock the app.

There are several Android users who’re relying on third-party apps or in-built app locker to secure WhatsApp, but once the Authentication feature rolls out to the public, they can make use of the in-built option itself.

WhatsApp Already Rolled Out Authentication Feature to iOS Users

Android Beta users are not the first ones to receive the Authentication feature as the company already rolled the feature to iOS users three months ago. Yes, you heard it right, it’s been three months since WhatsApp pushed Touch ID/Face ID authentication feature to iOS users. Generally, almost all the new WhatsApp features reach Android Beta versions first, but that’s not the case with Authentication feature as it was rolled out to iOS first, and now being added to Android Beta version 2.19.3.

Right now, Android Beta allows users to secure their WhatsApp app only via Fingerprint scanner and not through Face Unlock. Almost all the Android smartphones in the market right now feature a fingerprint scanner, but some popular entry-level phones like the Redmi 7A, Realme C2 and so on, ship with Face Unlock feature. It will be interesting to see if WhatsApp rolls out Face Unlock authentication feature as well.