How to Set Up and Use Passkeys
How to Set Up and Use Passkeys
Passkeys are a newer, more secure way to sign into accounts without a traditional password — using your device and its built-in authentication (like your fingerprint, face, or device PIN) to log you in. Designed to be both more secure and more convenient than passwords, passkeys are increasingly supported by major services. Because they resist phishing and eliminate password-related weaknesses, passkeys represent a significant step forward in account security. This guide explains what passkeys are, why they are more secure, how to set them up, and how to use them, in plain terms.
What Passkeys Are
Passkeys replace passwords with a more secure method:
A passwordless login: Instead of typing a password, you authenticate with your device — using your fingerprint, face recognition, or device PIN — and your device proves your identity to the service.
How they work (simply): Passkeys use cryptographic key pairs. A private key stays securely on your device (never shared), and the service holds a corresponding public key. When you log in, your device uses the private key to prove your identity without transmitting a secret that could be stolen.
No shared secret to steal: Unlike a password (a secret you send to the service, which could be intercepted, phished, or exposed in a breach), the passkey's private key never leaves your device, eliminating these weaknesses.
Why Passkeys Are More Secure
Passkeys address the core weaknesses of passwords:
Phishing-resistant: This is a major advantage. Passkeys are tied to the specific legitimate site and cannot be entered on a fake phishing site — so phishing attacks that steal passwords do not work against passkeys.
Nothing to breach: Since the service does not store a password (only a public key, which is not secret), a breach of the service does not expose a password to steal.
No weak or reused passwords: Passkeys eliminate the problems of weak, reused, and forgotten passwords entirely.
No password to type or remember: There is no password for you to create, remember, type, or have stolen.
Strong by design: Passkeys provide strong authentication built on your device's security, combining strong security with convenience.
How to Set Up a Passkey
Setting up a passkey is generally simple where supported:
Check for passkey support: Many major services now support passkeys. Look in the account's security settings for a passkey option (sometimes called "passkey" or "passwordless sign-in").
Create the passkey: Choose to create a passkey. Your device will prompt you to authenticate (with your fingerprint, face, or device PIN) to create and store the passkey securely on your device.
Confirm and save: The passkey is created and stored on your device (and often synced securely across your devices through your platform/account, depending on the ecosystem).
Repeat for other accounts: Set up passkeys on other services that support them, gradually moving toward passwordless login where available.
Keep a backup method initially: While adopting passkeys, keep your account recovery options and any backup sign-in methods set up, in case you need them.
How to Use Passkeys Across Devices
Passkeys are designed for convenient use across your devices:
Signing in: When logging in, choose the passkey option, and authenticate with your device (fingerprint, face, or PIN). That is it — no password to type.
Syncing across devices: In many ecosystems, passkeys sync securely across your devices (through your platform account), so you can use them on your phone, tablet, and computer.
Using on another device: You can often use a passkey from your phone to sign in on another device (e.g., by scanning a code), providing flexibility.
Multiple passkeys: You can have passkeys on multiple devices for an account, providing convenience and backup.
Important Considerations
Keep these points in mind as you adopt passkeys:
Device security matters: Since passkeys rely on your device's authentication, securing your device (with a strong device PIN/passcode and biometrics) is important — it protects your passkeys.
Recovery and backup: Ensure you understand how your passkeys are backed up or synced, and keep account recovery options set up, so you are not locked out if you lose a device.
Gradual adoption: Passkey support is growing but not universal yet. You will likely use passkeys for some accounts and passwords (with 2FA) for others during the transition. Use passkeys where available and good password practices elsewhere.
Combine with good habits: For accounts still using passwords, continue using strong, unique passwords (a password manager helps) and 2FA. Passkeys and good password practices together cover all your accounts during the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a passkey and how is it different from a password?
A passkey is a more secure, passwordless way to sign into accounts using your device and its built-in authentication (fingerprint, face, or device PIN) instead of typing a password. It works with cryptographic key pairs — a private key stays securely on your device and never leaves it, while the service holds a corresponding public key. Unlike a password (a secret you send to the service, which can be phished, intercepted, or exposed in a breach), the passkey's private key never leaves your device, eliminating these weaknesses and making passkeys both more secure and more convenient.
Why are passkeys more secure than passwords?
Passkeys address passwords' core weaknesses. They are phishing-resistant — tied to the specific legitimate site and unable to be entered on a fake phishing site, so password-stealing phishing does not work against them. Since the service stores only a public key (not a secret), a breach does not expose a password to steal. Passkeys also eliminate weak, reused, and forgotten passwords entirely, since there is no password to create, remember, type, or have stolen. They provide strong authentication built on your device's security, combining strong security with convenience.
How do I set up and use a passkey?
Look in an account's security settings for a passkey or passwordless sign-in option (many major services now support them), choose to create a passkey, and authenticate with your device (fingerprint, face, or PIN) to create and store it securely on your device. To sign in afterward, choose the passkey option and authenticate with your device — no password to type. Passkeys often sync securely across your devices through your platform account, and you can use a passkey from your phone to sign in on other devices. Keep account recovery options set up, and secure your device, since it protects your passkeys.
Conclusion
Passkeys are a newer, more secure way to sign into accounts without a traditional password — using your device and its built-in authentication (fingerprint, face, or device PIN) to log you in. They work with cryptographic key pairs, keeping a private key securely on your device (never shared) while the service holds a public key, so there is no shared secret to phish, intercept, or expose in a breach. This makes passkeys significantly more secure than passwords: they are phishing-resistant (tied to the legitimate site and unusable on fake sites), leave nothing to steal in a breach, and eliminate weak, reused, and forgotten passwords entirely — all while being more convenient. Setting up a passkey is simple where supported: find the passkey option in an account's security settings, create it by authenticating with your device, and use it by choosing the passkey option and authenticating with your device when signing in. Passkeys often sync securely across your devices and can be used across devices flexibly. As you adopt them, secure your device (which protects your passkeys), keep account recovery options set up, and continue using strong unique passwords and 2FA for accounts that do not yet support passkeys. By setting up and using passkeys where available, you take advantage of one of the most significant advances in account security — moving toward logins that are both stronger and simpler than passwords.