Passkeys overview
Applies To
Are you tired of constantly forgetting your passwords and having to type them in every time you want to access your favorite websites and applications? Say hello to passkeys!
Passkeys provide a more secure and convenient way to sign in. With passkeys, you can use Windows Hello to sign in with a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint, making the authentication process faster and more convenient than ever before.
Passkeys compared to passwords
Passkeys are the future of authentication, and for good reason! They're incredibly easy to use and intuitive, eliminating the need for complicated password creation processes and the hassle of remembering them. Plus, they're unique to each website or application, so you don't have to worry about someone using your passkey to access other services. And unlike passwords, passkeys are resistant to phishing attempts, making them a much more secure option. Best of all, you can use your passkey across all your devices, so you never have to worry about forgetting your password again!
Note:Â The website or application you're trying to sign into must support passkeys in order for them to work. The good news is that the industry is quickly adopting passkeys as an authentication mechanism, so more and more websites and applications are beginning to offer this feature.
Watch this short video to better understand the benefits of passkeys, and how they provide a faster, safer, and easier experience compared to passwords.
Passkey types
There are two types of passkeys:Â synced passkeys and device-bound passkeys.
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Synced passkeys can synchronize between your devices via a cloud service. For example, you can use Microsoft Password Manager or a trusted third-party passkey manager to keep your passkeys synchronized across your Windows devices. Â
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Device-bound passkeys are created on a device and cannot leave it.
Tip:Â Synchronize your passkeys whenever possible. That way, your passkeys are backed up and available on all your devices. To learn more, see Synchronize passkeys to your Microsoft account.
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