Have you heard? WhatsApp is rolling out a new, very important feature: two-step verification.
In simple terms, this means that on top of the one-time verification that happens when you are setting up WhatsApp for the first time on a new phone, there will be a second verification that will be popping up from time to time just to make sure that your private chats remain just that, private. It’s for your own security.
So now, how do you go about activating the feature?
Easy. Just follow these quick steps:
1. Open WhatsApp
2. Go to Settings
3. Go to Account
4. Go to Two-step verification
5. Click Enable
6. Enter your desired passcode (this will be what decides whether you can access your WhatsApp conversations in the future or not so make sure you remember it)
7. Confirm the passcode
8. Enter your email address. While this is not necessary and can be ignored (just click Skip), it is recommended since it is the email address you provide that can be used to confirm your account in the event you forget the passcode you just set.
Are there consequences for not entering an email address as required in this step? Yes! Here’s what WhatsApp says on that matter:
If you have two-step verification enabled, your number will not be permitted to reverify on WhatsApp within 7 days of last using WhatsApp without your passcode. Thus, if you forget your own passcode, but did not provide an email to disable two-step verification, even you will not be permitted to reverify on WhatsApp within 7 days of last using WhatsApp. After these 7 days, your number will be permitted to reverify on WhatsApp without your passcode, but you will lose all pending messages upon reverifying – they will be deleted. If your number is reverified on WhatsApp after 30 days of last using WhatsApp, and without your passcode, your account will be deleted and a new one will be created upon successfully reverifying.
9. If you opted to provide your email address in step 8 above, confirm it by re-entering it
10. Click Done. That’s it!
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