Passwords have protected online accounts for decades, but they also create everyday problems. People forget them, reuse them across websites, or accidentally enter them on fake login pages. Passkeys offer a different way to sign in. Instead of typing a password, you approve the login using your device’s fingerprint sensor, face recognition, screen lock PIN, or another supported security method.
Passkeys are now supported by major technology platforms and an increasing number of websites and apps. This guide explains what passkeys are, how the technology works, why it can improve account security, and what to consider before switching.
What Is a Passkey?
A passkey is a digital sign-in credential connected to a specific account on a website or app. It lets you authenticate without entering a traditional password. Depending on your device and account settings, you may approve a sign-in with a fingerprint, face recognition, a device PIN, or a compatible security key.
Unlike a password, a passkey is not a secret phrase that you create and type into a login box. It uses public-key cryptography. When you register a passkey, your device or password manager creates a unique pair of cryptographic keys for that account. The private key stays protected by your authenticator, while the website stores the corresponding public key.
How Do Passkeys Work?
Passkeys use a process designed to prove that your device has the right credential without sending a reusable password to the website. The process usually has two stages:
- Registration: After you sign in to an account and choose to create a passkey, your device or credential manager creates a public and private key pair. The service stores the public key and associates it with your account.
- Sign-in: The website sends a cryptographic challenge. Your authenticator uses the private key to sign that challenge after you approve the request. The website checks the signature using the public key it already holds.
The private key is not sent to the website during sign-in. Your fingerprint or face data is also generally used locally by your device to unlock the credential, rather than being sent to the website as part of the passkey authentication.
This approach is based on established FIDO and WebAuthn standards. It also binds a passkey to the genuine website or app identity, which is an important reason passkeys are resistant to many phishing attacks.
Why Are Passkeys More Secure Than Passwords?
Traditional passwords can be guessed, reused, stolen in data breaches, or captured by convincing fake login pages. A strong, unique password and multi-factor authentication still help, but users must manage them correctly.
Passkeys address several of these weaknesses:
- Phishing resistance: A passkey is tied to the website or app for which it was created. A fake website using a different domain cannot normally request a valid passkey for the real service.
- No password to reuse: You do not need to invent or remember a separate password for every account.
- Less value in a server breach: A service stores the public key, not the private key needed to complete authentication. A stolen public key alone cannot be used as your passkey.
- Convenient verification: You can approve a sign-in using a device unlock method you already use, such as a PIN or biometric check.
No security method makes an account completely invulnerable. Protect the device and the account used to sync or recover your passkeys, and keep recovery details up to date.
Where Can You Use Passkeys?
Passkey support depends on the website, app, operating system, browser, and credential manager. Major platforms provide passkey support, but not every online service has enabled the feature.
- Google accounts: Google lets users create and manage passkeys through their account sign-in settings. Depending on the device, a passkey can use a fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock.
- Apple devices: Apple supports passkeys through its password and iCloud Keychain features. They can be used across supported Apple devices and, in some situations, to sign in on other devices.
- Windows: Windows supports passkeys through Windows Hello and compatible credential providers. A user may approve access with a PIN or biometric verification.
- Other websites and apps: Many services are adding passkey sign-in. Look in account settings under labels such as Security, Sign-in methods, or Passkeys.
How to Create a Passkey for Your Account
The exact steps vary by service, but the general process is similar:
- Open the official website or app and sign in using your current method.
- Go to the account’s Security or Sign-in settings.
- Look for Passkeys, Create a passkey, or Add a passkey.
- Review the device or password manager that will store the credential.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and unlock your device when asked.
- Check the account’s passkey list to confirm that the new credential has been added.
For a Google Account, you can start from the official Google Account passkeys settings. Only create a passkey on a device or credential manager that you control. Avoid setting one up on a shared or public computer.
Can You Use a Passkey on a New Phone or Computer?
That depends on how the passkey is stored. Some passkeys are synced securely through a credential manager or platform account, making them available on other devices signed in to the same provider. Other passkeys are device-bound and remain on one device or physical security key.
Before replacing or resetting a phone or computer, check whether your passkeys are synced or backed up and make sure you can still access the account that manages them. If you use a device-bound passkey, register another supported sign-in or recovery method before losing access to the original device.
What Happens If You Lose Your Phone?
Losing a phone does not automatically mean losing access to every account. If your passkeys are synced through a supported provider, you may be able to restore them on a replacement device after completing that provider’s account recovery process. If a passkey exists only on the lost device, you may need another passkey, a security key, or the service’s account recovery process.
For important accounts, prepare before a device is lost. Keep recovery email addresses and phone numbers current, consider adding a second passkey on a separate device you control, and store backup codes securely when a service provides them. Never share recovery codes with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Are Passkeys Completely Safe?
Passkeys provide strong protection against password theft and many phishing attacks, but they do not remove every risk. Someone who can unlock your device may be able to use credentials stored on it. An attacker who takes control of your broader platform account may also create problems for synced credentials or account recovery.
Use a strong device PIN, enable automatic screen locking, install security updates, protect your Google or Apple account with appropriate security measures, and review the devices signed in to your accounts. Be cautious of unexpected recovery requests and never approve a sign-in prompt you did not initiate.
Passkeys vs Passwords: Key Differences
| Feature | Passwords | Passkeys |
|---|---|---|
| How you sign in | Type a secret phrase | Approve with a supported device or security key |
| Phishing protection | Can be entered on a fake website | Bound to the genuine website or app identity |
| Server storage | Services store password verifiers or hashes | Service stores a public key |
| Remembering credentials | Users may need to remember or manage them | Managed by a device or credential manager |
| Recovery | Password reset or recovery process | Synced credentials, another passkey, security key, or account recovery |
Should You Start Using Passkeys?
If a trusted website or app offers passkeys, they are worth considering. They can make everyday sign-ins easier while reducing the risk of password reuse and phishing. You do not need to convert every account at once. Start with an important account, make sure you understand where its passkey is stored, and confirm that you have a working recovery method.
Passwords may remain available alongside passkeys for some services during the transition. Keep any remaining passwords unique and strong, and continue using additional security protections where appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do passkeys replace passwords?
Passkeys are designed as an alternative to passwords, and some services allow passwordless sign-in. Other services let users keep passwords and passkeys together during the transition.
Do I need a fingerprint scanner to use a passkey?
No. Depending on the device and service, you may use face recognition, a device PIN, a pattern, or a compatible hardware security key.
Are passkeys free?
Creating and using passkeys is generally available without a separate passkey fee. However, the device, platform, or service may have its own costs or requirements.
Can someone steal my passkey through a fake website?
Passkeys are designed to be resistant to phishing because the credential is tied to the website or app identity. Still, protect your device and credential manager, and be alert to fake support messages and account recovery scams.
Can I keep using my password after creating a passkey?
That depends on the service. Some allow both methods, while others may offer a passwordless sign-in option. Check the account’s security settings for the available choices.
Final Thoughts
Passkeys are an important step towards simpler and stronger online security. They replace the need to type a reusable password with a cryptographic credential protected by a device or security key. For users, the best approach is to adopt passkeys on trusted services, understand how they are backed up or recovered, and keep devices and account recovery options secure.
