WhatsApp replaces six-digit two-step verification PIN with alphanumeric passwords

WhatsApp on August 25, 2026 announced that two-step verification, unchanged since its February 2017 launch, now accepts longer alphanumeric passwords with special characters instead of the six-digit numeric PIN. The PIN had remained vulnerable to guessing attacks for nearly a decade. The feature remains optional, set via Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification.