Image credit: WhatsApp/Website
Meta-owned WhatsApp has announced two major updates aimed at expanding its reach and strengthening user security. The company is introducing an all-new WhatsApp app for Apple Watch, while also making it easier for users to secure their chat backups with passkey encryption.
Together, these updates reflect WhatsApp’s broader effort to deliver seamless communication experiences while maintaining strong privacy protections.
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In what it calls a “big upgrade for your wrist,” WhatsApp has officially launched its Apple Watch app. The new experience lets users stay connected and manage conversations without pulling out their iPhone, offering an array of new features designed for convenience and accessibility.
For the first time, Apple Watch users can read and respond to full WhatsApp messages directly from their wrist, even long ones. The app also supports call notifications, allowing users to see who’s calling without checking their phone, and introduces the ability to record and send voice messages straight from the watch.
Adding to the interactive experience, WhatsApp has included the option to react to messages with quick emoji responses and view clear images and stickers, enhancing the visual appeal of chats on a smaller screen. Users can also access more of their chat history when reading messages, making the wrist-based experience more complete.
WhatsApp emphasised that this is just the beginning of building a better Apple Watch experience, with future updates expected to bring even more functionality. Importantly, all personal messages and calls remain private with end-to-end encryption, consistent with the company’s privacy-first design.
The new WhatsApp app requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later, running watchOS 10 or newer.
Making encryption easier for everyone
In a parallel development, WhatsApp has also unveiled a new way to protect chat backups through passkey-encrypted backups. This upgrade simplifies how users keep their old messages, photos, and voice notes safe, especially when switching devices or recovering data.
Previously, WhatsApp users relied on manually managed passwords or lengthy 64-digit encryption keys to secure their backups. The new system eliminates that hassle by letting users encrypt backups using their fingerprint, face, or device screen lock code. This makes the backup process faster and more intuitive, while maintaining the same level of privacy and end-to-end encryption that protects regular chats and calls.
WhatsApp says this rollout will take place gradually over the coming weeks and months, giving users a straightforward path to enhanced security. To activate the feature, users can go to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end Encrypted Backup.
With this dual update, one focused on accessibility and the other on security, WhatsApp continues to strengthen its position as a leading global messaging platform.
