WhatsApp lets you use a stronger password instead of a six-digit code for extra account protection

WhatsApp announced on August 25, 2026 that its optional second layer of account protection, unchanged since February 2017, now accepts longer passwords with letters, numbers, and special characters instead of a six-digit number code. The old code could be guessed by attackers for nearly a decade. You can turn it on in Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification.