WhatsApp Gains Email Address Verification for Authenticating Accounts
WhatsApp has started allowing users to authenticate their account on a device with an email address as an alternative to using a phone number, for times when cellular coverage is poor.
The new option to link an account to an email address does not replace SMS verification via a six-pin code, and opening a WhatsApp account still requires the user to provide a number. But with email verification, existing users now also have the means to authenticate their account on a device even in areas where cellular signal is non-existent.
Spotted by WABetaInfo, the new feature is rolling out today as part of version 23.24.70 of WhatsApp for iPhone in the App Store. To use email verification in the updated app, tap the Settings tab, choose Account, then select Email Address.
WhatsApp has also been working on a username feature that could potentially provide people on the messaging service with an additional layer of privacy when communicating with others.
The username feature is still in development, so it’s too early to tell how they will work when they are rolled out, but it could be that the platform intends to let users reach other people by entering a username instead of a phone number, similar to Telegram.
Popular Stories
25 New Things Your iPhone Can Do With Next Month’s iOS 17.2 Update
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we’ve seen two more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we’ve listed 25 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released in December. 1. Help You…
iPhone 16 Series Rumored to Have These 17 New Features
The iPhone 16 series is at least 10 months away, and yet there are 17 rumors already circulating about the devices. Below, we’ve recapped all of the new features and changes we have covered here at MacRumors so far. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The following key changes have been rumored for the iPhone 16 lineup as of November 2023: Larger Displays: The…
4 Best Black Friday iPad Deals
Even though there’s still one week until Black Friday, we’re tracking a number of all-time low prices on iPads today. This also includes record lows on iPad accessories like the Magic Keyboard. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. iPads Starting…
Apple Plans to Equip MacBooks With In-House Cellular Modems
Apple eventually plans to build its own custom modem into cellular MacBook models that could arrive in 2028 at the earliest, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple has reportedly been working on its own modem since 2018, as it seeks to move away from Qualcomm’s component currently used in iPhones. The timeframe for launching the modem has slipped several times and is now expected to be…
Apple Preparing to Release iOS 17.1.2 Update for iPhone
Apple appears to be internally testing an iOS 17.1.2 update for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software in our website’s analytics logs within the past few days. As a minor update, iOS 17.1.2 should be focused on bug fixes, but it’s unclear exactly which issues might be addressed. Some users have continued to experience Wi-Fi issues on iOS 17.1.1, released earlier this month, so…
First Alleged iPhone 16 Pro Component Leak Reveals Redesigned Battery
Images purporting to depict a new battery designed for the iPhone 16 Pro today leaked online, showing a new metal casing and a slightly larger capacity. The images come from the leaker known as “Kosutami,” who has disseminated accurate information about Apple’s plans in the past. If authentic, the images are the first to be shared of the iPhone 16’s components. The battery is said to be…
