The process of registering a user account on WhatsApp only requires in its basic form the entry of a code sent to the phone in the form of a text message or phone call. A method that is quite effective, as long as the account holder is in possession of the SIM card.
What is WhatsApp two-step verification for?
However, this method also allows anyone else to access our account by surreptitiously borrowing the associated SIM card. That is why WhatsApp as an additional protection method can require the entry of a secondary code in the account verification process, which in other words means using two-step verification or double authentication factor.
Because for obvious reasons, it is no longer possible that it is a code sent by SMS or call, WhatsApp’s two-step verification consists of entering a PIN or six-digit security code different from the previous one, and that must be remembered by the account holder.
Here we show you how to activate this WhatsApp feature
How to activate the double authentication factor in WhatsApp
First of all, go to your phone, open WhatsApp and enter its settings section. On iPhone, tap on Settings, On Android, tap on the icon shaped like three vertical dots and select Settings.
Now, go to Account > Two-Step Verification and tap on Activate.
Next, enter the six-digit PIN and confirm it. Enter an email address to reinforce this security method and confirm the account. If you don’t want to do this, tap Skip. Then click Next.
How to disable WhatsApp two-step verification
If you tend to change phones frequently and it is not comfortable for you to have WhatsApp two-step verification activated, you can deactivate this feature by going to Settings > Two-step verification > Deactivate.