First reported by WABetaInfo, this banner is currently in development. “Secure your account” the banner’s title reads. WhatsApp further explains that two-step verification will provide an additional layer of security to your account. It requires you to enter a pre-set six-digit PIN along with an SMS code when registering the same phone number on a new device. This ensures that no one can impersonate you by creating a WhatsApp account using your phone number even if they have access to the SMS code. At the bottom of this full-page banner is a “set up now” button. Tapping it should take you to the existing settings page where you can create your six-digit PIN. WhatsApp also lets you enter an optional email address which will be used to reset your PIN if you forget it. While you can skip the email address, keep in mind that there’s no other way to recover your account if you forget the PIN. You won’t be able to create a WhatsApp account with the same phone number. This banner also features a “skip” and a “close” button (cross icon), which suggests that it will be part of the registration or migration process. But WhatsApp may also show it to users within the app once in a while to remind them to set up 2FA. It should not appear for users who have already enabled the feature.
WhatsApp is still not making 2FA mandatory
WhatsApp has offered 2FA for several years now. It added the feature back in November 2016. But even after six years, the company hasn’t made 2FA mandatory. The Meta platform doesn’t push two-step verification to its users. The feature is there and you can enable it from the Account section in Settings. It appears WhatsApp is finally preparing to encourage users to enable 2FA. WABetaInfo spotted the new banner prompting users to enable 2FA in the WhatsApp beta version 2.22.23.17 for Android. However, the banner is not yet live for beta users. It’s still in development. The Meta-owned messaging app may roll it out to users in the coming weeks.
