WhatsApp for Android to get Fingerprint Lock feature soon, now available in Beta

The much-anticipated feature, which has been available for iOS WhatsApp users for quite a while now — the ‘fingerprint unlock’ for the messaging platform, has been introduced to Android users as well. According to WABetaInfo, the portal which tracks WhatsApp updates has suggested that this new feature has been rolled out to WhatsApp beta testers and soon-to-be rolled out to all WhatsApp users as well.

The users who have enrolled to WhatsApp Beta program are said to be getting this update after updating to 2.19.221 version number. After updating, users can enable the new Fingerprint lock feature by sliding to WhatsApp Settings~Account~Privacy~Fingerprint Unlock~toggle on/off.

Enabling it will give you further options in the messaging platform indicating the time frame for which the app needs to be locked just like your conventional ‘lock screen time’ options available in the usual display settings of your smartphone. Users can further hide the preview of the messages received, which will only appear after recognizing the fingerprint.

Moreover, the new Fingerprint lock works in the same conventional way of your phone’s fingerprint unlock feature. To disable the fingerprint lock feature on WhatsApp, users can either simply toggle off the switch in the messaging platforms’ aforementioned settings or they can disable the phone’s fingerprint sensor authentication altogether.

Users have to bear in mind, the fingerprint lock feature only to open your chats; however, they can still answer calls even if this new lock feature is enabled. The time span options to lock the WhatsApp includes — after a minute or 30 minutes or ‘Immediately’ to lock the app instantly. The iOS WhatsApp additionally provides lock after fifteen minutes or one hour, in addition, to ‘immediately’ and one-minute time span, no 30 minutes here.

That said, the new Fingerprint lock feature for Android WhatsApp users is undoubtedly deserving as it allows users to have more privacy of their important conversations on the Facebook-owned WhatsApp, meaning more control for users on the messaging platform. If you’re an Android WhatsApp Beta user, we would also recommend users to update the app and enable the feature immediately. For non-beta users, stay patient, the new update is expected to rollout soon. Stay connected to PhoneRadar for more such interesting updates.

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