WhatsApp Now Supports Face Unlock for App Lock on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

WhatsApp's locked screen gets some cosmetic tweaks with the latest update.

Written by Nithya P Nair, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 25 April 2024 17:54 IST

WhatsApp Now Supports Face Unlock for App Lock on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

Photo Credit: Google

If WhatsApp fails to recognise face, it will switch back to fingerprint sensor prompt

Highlights

Face unlock support on Pixel 8 rolled out with WhatsApp version 2.24.8.85
Google Pixel 8 series was launched last year
Face unlock feature will keep chats secure from prying eyes

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

The Meta-owned instant messaging platform has added a new security layer with the latest update to the app on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users. Face unlock support on the Pixel 8 series appears to have rolled out with WhatsApp's stable version 2.24.8.85. After the update, WhatsApp will show a system face unlock sheet at the bottom of the screen and a ring around the front-facing camera upon launching the app. If the app doesn't recognise the user's face within a few seconds, it will then switch back to the fingerprint sensor prompt. Users can also choose to enter their PIN. We at Gadgets 360 were able to use Face unlock on the Pixel 8 for WhatsApp.

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

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Google has been offering a face unlock option on its flagship phones for years now. However, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 pro smartphones, launched in October last year, were the first to come with upgraded face unlock capabilities that let users access compatible banking and payment apps like Google Wallet.

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

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Google Pixel 8

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Smaller form factor makes it more comfortable to hold
Excellent and bright display
Cameras are still the best
Packed with AI features

Bad
Battery life is still not the best
Expensive
Tends to heat up under heavy load

Read detailed Google Pixel 8 review

Display 6.20-inch

Processor Google Tensor G3

Front Camera 11-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 4575mAh

OS Android 14

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

More Google mobiles Google mobiles price in India

Google Pixel 8 Pro

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Premium design, IP68 rating
Fun AI-infused software experience
Good quality cameras
Quality video recording
Impressive image editing software
Long-term commitment to software updates

Bad
Gets warm under load
Buggy camera app
Not made for gaming
Average battery life
Relatively slow wired charging

Read detailed Google Pixel 8 Pro review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Google Tensor G3

Front Camera 11-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 64-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 5050mAh

OS Android 14

Resolution 1344x2992 pixels

More Google mobiles Google mobiles price in India

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Further reading: WhatsApp, WhatsApp Update, WhatsApp Features, WhatsApp Face Unlock, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro

Nithya P Nair

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Nithya P Nair is a journalist with more than five years of experience in digital journalism. She specialises in business and technology beats. A foodie at heart, Nithya loves exploring new places (read cuisines) and sneaking in Malayalam movie dialogues to spice up conversations. More