WhatsApp has started allowing users to authenticate their account on the device with an email address as an alternative to using a phone number 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 a means to authenticate their account on a device with an Internet connection, even if their cellular service is unavailable.
Spotted by WABetaInfo, the new feature is rolling out to the App Store today as part of version 23.24.70 of WhatsApp for iPhone. To use email verification in the updated app, tap the Settings tab, select Account, then select an email address.
WhatsApp is also working on a username feature that could potentially provide people an extra layer of privacy when communicating with others on the messaging service.
The username feature is still in development, so it’s too early to tell how they’ll work when they’re rolled out, but it’s possible that the platform intends for users to reach out to other people by entering a username instead of a phone number. To give, like a wire.
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 expecting for quite some time. Below, we’ve listed 25 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the final version is publicly released in December. 1. Help you…
iPhone 16 series is rumored to have these 17 new features
The iPhone 16 series is at least 10 months away, and there are still 17 rumors already circulating about the device. Below, we’ve summarized all the new features and changes we’ve covered so far on MacRumors. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The following key changes are rumored for the iPhone 16 lineup by November 2023: Larger displays:…
4 Best Black Friday iPad Deals
Even though there’s still a week to go until Black Friday, we’re taking a look at the lowest prices ever on iPads today. This also includes record declines on iPad accessories like the Magic Keyboard. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. iPad is starting…
Apple plans to equip MacBooks with in-house cellular modems
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is eventually planning to build its own custom modem into cellular MacBook models that could arrive as soon as 2028. Apple has reportedly been working on its own modem since 2018, as it wants to move away from the Qualcomm component currently used in iPhones. The deadline for launching the modem has been postponed several times and now it is expected that…
Apple is preparing to release iOS 17.1.2 update for iPhone
Apple appears to be internally testing the iOS 17.1.2 update for iPhone, based on evidence of the software in our website’s analytics logs over the past few days. As a small update, iOS 17.1.2 should be focused on bug fixes, but it’s unclear what issues may be addressed. Some users continue 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 depicting a new battery designed for the iPhone 16 Pro leaked online today, showing a new metal casing and slightly larger capacity. The photos come from a leaker named “Kosutami,” who has leaked accurate information about Apple’s plans in the past. If authentic, the images are the first images of iPhone 16 components to be shared. It is said that the battery…