WhatsApp launched Fingerprint Lock for Android users in October 2019.
The feature let people require a fingerprint authentication before opening WhatsApp on supported Android phones. WhatsApp announced it on October 31, 2019, describing it as an extra layer of privacy for conversations, photos, and calls. Users could enable it through Settings, Account, Privacy, and Fingerprint lock.
Fingerprint Lock followed WhatsApp’s earlier biometric protection for iPhone. In February 2019, WhatsApp added support for Apple’s Touch ID and Face ID, while Android’s rollout initially focused on fingerprint sensors. The feature used the biometric system already registered on the device rather than creating a separate WhatsApp fingerprint database.
A common mix-up is confusing this app-lock feature with WhatsApp’s later passkey support. Passkeys can use a device’s fingerprint, face recognition, PIN, or other screen-lock method for account authentication, but the 2019 Android feature specifically locked access to the app with a fingerprint. Iris scan, voiceprint, and face recognition were not the answer to this launch question.