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What you need to know
- WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that ensures you don’t forget the password you set for your end-to-end encrypted backups.
- The prompt pops up every now and then as a reminder when you open the messaging app.
- It is said to be gradually rolled out to all users after installing the latest version of the app.
WhatsApp is apparently rolling out an annoying feature aimed at making sure you always remember the password you created for your Google Drive or iCloud backup.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is available to a few users for now and is slowly rolling out to everyone. It’s essentially similar to an existing popup asking you to confirm your 6-digit PIN for two-step verification.
After updating the app to the latest version, you may see a prompt asking you to enter the 64-digit key or password. Otherwise, you won’t be able to access WhatsApp unless you disable encrypted backups.
WhatsApp launched end-to-end encrypted backups with Google Drive and iCloud two years ago to help protect your chats from the prying eyes of third parties. The security feature closed a major loophole that many governments had exploited to access private messages between individuals.
Once enabled, your backups are encrypted with a unique, randomly generated key. You can also protect the key manually or with a password, although some users have forgotten their passwords at some point. This can be frustrating, as you won’t be able to access your backup if you forget your password.
If it already is, you can disable the encrypted backup option once the reminder to access the app pops up. You can then reactivate the security feature with a new password or 64-digit key, although your previously encrypted chat history will be lost.
To avoid this dilemma, consider storing your password in a secure environment. For what it’s worth, many of the leading password managers prove helpful in helping you remember your backup password.
