Like many online services out there, WhatsApp provides two-step verification as an additional layer of security for your account.
An optional measure designed to help strengthen the security of your account, two-step verification requires that you verify your mobile phone number after installing WhatsApp’s mobile app on a new device with a six-digit code that you created using this feature.
Here’s how to enable two-step verification for your WhatsApp account.
Things to know about two-step verification on WhatsApp
This feature requires you to create a six-digit passcode and provide an optional rescue email address. Upon enabling two-step verification, you’ll need to enter the passcode every time you install WhatsApp on a new device.
Unlike similar two-step verification systems, WhatsApp doesn’t generate these passcodes for you—each and every user is required to create their custom passcode for two-step verification.
As a fallback mechanism, you can provide a rescue email address where WhatsApp will send you a link to disable two-step verification if you forget the passcode.
Think twice before skipping this step: if you enable two-step verification without providing an email address, and you forget your passcode, WhatsApp will lock you out of your account.
If you forget the passcode but did not provide a rescue email address, you won’t be allowed to reverify your mobile phone number within seven days of last using WhatsApp.
After seven days, your number will be permitted to reverify on WhatsApp without the passcode, but all pending messages upon reverifying will be deleted.
Lastly, and most importantly, if your mobile phone number is reverified on WhatsApp after 30 days of last using the service, and without the passcode, your account will be deleted and a new one will be created upon successfully reverifying.
How to enable two-step verification on WhatsApp
1) Launch WhatsApp on your iOS device.
2) Tap the Settings tab at the bottom of the screen.
3) Tap Account → Two-Step Verification.
4) Tap Enable.
5) Create and confirm your six-digit passcode for two-step verification.
Tip: WhatsApp will periodically ask you to confirm the passcode. There’s currently no option to disable this without turning the two-step verification feature off.
6) Now enter your optional rescue email address, then confirm it.
Tip: The system doesn’t verify your email for accuracy so be sure to type it properly.
You’re wholeheartedly recommended to provide a rescue email address so that you can disable the two-step verification feature if you ever forget your passcode.
IMPORTANT: Should you receive an email from WhatsApp containing a link to disable two-step verification, but did not request this, do not click on it because someone could be attempting to verify your phone number on WhatsApp.
7) Tap Done to finish setting up two-step verification.
Congratulations, your WhatsApp account is now protected with two-step verification!
You’ll need to enter the passcode when registering your number with WhatsApp again.
How to disable two-step verification on WhatsApp
1) Launch WhatsApp on your iOS device.
2) Tap Settings → Account → Two-Step Verification → Disable.
3) Confirm the action by tapping Disable in the popup menu.
The feature will be disabled without requiring any additional steps.
Changing your two-step verification passcode
You can easily change your two-step verification passcode if you forget it.
1) Launch WhatsApp on your iOS device.
2) Tap Settings → Account → Two-Step Verification → Change Passcode.
3) Enter your new six-digit passcode, then confirm it.
That’s it, you just changed your two-step verification passcode!
Be sure to keep the passcode in safe place because you will lose access to your WhatsApp account if you forget it but didn’t provide a rescue email address through which you could disable two-step verification.
Changing your two-step verification email address
1) Launch WhatsApp on your iOS device.
2) Tap Settings → Account → Two-Step Verification → Change Email Address.
3) Enter a new rescue email address for two-step verification, then confirm it.
That’s it, you just changed your rescue email address.
If you forget your passcode, simply ask WhatsApp to email you a link to disable two-step verification. Be sure to double-check that you have typed your email address properly because WhatsApp doesn’t verify it for accuracy.
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