WhatsApp now supports Face Unlock to lock apps on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

The Google Pixel 8 series arrived last year with an improved face unlock feature, allowing users to access compatible banking and payment apps. WhatsApp has now rolled out support for the face unlock feature on Pixel 8 phones. This update provides a convenient way to unlock WhatsApp and secure your chats from prying eyes. Once users set up facial recognition in the instant messaging app, they can simply look at the phone’s front-facing camera to unlock the app. This facility eliminates the need for biometric authentication.

The Meta-owned instant messaging platform has added a new layer of security with its latest app update for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users. Face unlock support on the Pixel 8 series seems to have been released with WhatsApp stable version 2.24.8.85. After the update, WhatsApp will show a system unlock sheet with a face at the bottom of the screen and a ring around the front camera when the app is launched. If the app doesn’t recognize the user’s face within a few seconds, it will fall back to the fingerprint sensor prompt. Users can also choose to enter their PIN. We at Gadgets 360 managed to use Pixel 8 face unlock for WhatsApp.

The latest update also seems to bring visual changes to the “WhatsApp Locked” screen. As seen on our Pixel 8, the lock screen now displays the word “locked” instead of the previous tick.

Google has offered a face unlock option on its flagship phones for years. However, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 pro smartphones launched in October last year were the first to appear renewed face unlock capabilities that allow users to access compatible banking and payment apps such as Google Wallet.

This feature is powered by the Google Tensor G3 SoC and advanced machine learning algorithms combined with the Titan M2 security chip. It can be used to authorize a contactless NFC transaction via Google Pay.