We've all been there—trying to remember which variation of your pet's name and birth year you used for a login, fumbling with two-factor authentication codes, or dealing with a "password reset" email for the third time this month. Passwords are frustrating, outdated, and not that secure.
Enter passkeys: a more straightforward, safer way to sign in.
What Are Passkeys, and Why Are They Better?
Passkeys are a modern alternative to passwords that use a pair of cryptographic keys—one public, one private—to verify your identity. Instead of relying on something you know (like a password) and something you have (like a texted code), passkeys depend on something you have (your device) and something you are (your biometric authentication, like Face ID or Touch ID).
Passkeys offer far greater protection than passwords because the private key never leaves your device and can't be guessed, shared, or phished.
How Do Passkeys Work?
Here's the simplified version:
- When you set up a passkey, your device generates public and private keys.
- The public key gets stored on the website.
- The private key stays securely on your device, locked behind biometrics or a passcode.
- When you log in, your device uses the private key to prove your identity. You never have to type in a password.
It's fast, seamless, and incredibly secure.
Where Can You Use Passkeys?
Passkeys are designed to simplify and secure logins for websites and apps. They're stored alongside your login credentials in your password manager and work across many platforms and devices.
For Apple users, Safari (on iOS 16 or macOS 13 Ventura and later) offers the most seamless experience through the built-in Passwords app, unlocking with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
But you're not limited to Apple's ecosystem. Most leading third-party password managers—like 1Password, Bitwarden, and Dashlane—also support passkeys. These tools sync across devices and browsers and offer cross-platform compatibility, whether on macOS, Windows, iOS, or Android.
Passkey support is built into most modern web browsers, including:
- Safari
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Brave, Opera, Arc, and other Chromium browsers
- Firefox has more limited native support but works well with third-party managers.
As for websites, support is growing fast. Tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft already use passkeys, as do many popular platforms in e-commerce, finance, and streaming. That includes services like Amazon, PayPal, and Netflix, with more joining regularly.
Setting Up Passkeys
Setting up passkeys varies by website, but is generally remarkably easy. You may be prompted to create a passkey while signing in, or you may need to navigate to the security options associated with your account.
Google offers both approaches. Setting up a passkey for a Google Account can be as simple as agreeing to do so while logging in. If you’re already logged in, Google’s Passkeys and security keys page lets you make one. Once you click Create a Passkey, you’ll be prompted to save it in either Apple’s Passwords or another password manager like 1Password. That’s it.
Note that if you use both Passwords and another password manager, you can save the passkey in only one, and only that one can use it to sign in later. However, most sites that support passkeys let you add multiple passkeys, so you could save separate passkeys in different password managers.
Signing in with Passkeys
Logging in with a passkey is refreshingly simple:
- Go to the login page.
- Enter your username.
- Choose "Sign in with a passkey."
- Use Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode to authenticate.
This feels almost invisible on Apple devices, especially with Safari—your device knows it's you. If you're using a different device or browser, some sites will show a QR code you can scan to complete the login with your phone.
On the iPhone and iPad, an authentication dialog appears at the bottom of the screen asking if you want to sign in with your passkey. Tap Continue and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID (with a fallback to your passcode if necessary).
Unsurprisingly, Apple makes it particularly easy to sign in to Apple websites like iCloud.com using a passkey. As soon as you navigate to such a site in Safari, the device prompts you to sign in using your current Apple Account username and an implicit passkey.
When using other browsers or another Mac that lacks access to your passkey, selecting the passkey sign-in option displays a QR code that you need to scan with an iPhone or iPad that has the passkey stored on it.
Managing and Sharing Passkeys
Passkeys live inside your password manager, alongside your saved passwords. You can delete them like any other login data, and they sync automatically across your devices (as long as they're connected to the same account or manager).
Need to share access to a family or shared business account? You can share a passkey using your password manager's secure sharing feature, just like you might share a password.
Passkey Concerns
While passkeys are a big leap forward, they're not perfect yet:
- Account recovery can be tricky if you lose all your devices and don't have a backup or shared access.
- Sharing requires setup on each person's device—you can't just copy and paste a passkey.
- No cross-platform syncing between Apple and third-party managers (yet).
- Passkey-only accounts aren't standard. Most sites still require a fallback password, which means the weakest link still exists.
- Enterprise-level features like passkey revocation, audit trails, or digital inheritance policies are still evolving.
Passkeys aren't just a buzzword—they're an innovative and safer way to log in. They eliminate traditional passwords' most significant weaknesses and offer an effortless user experience.
If you're ready for fewer password resets and more peace of mind, use passkeys wherever available. The future of login security is already here—and it fits in your pocket.
(Featured image by iStock.com/tanit boonruen)
______________________________________________________________
Need help? Contact The MacGuys+ at 763-331-6227
Top-notch IT support for Mac-based businesses in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Twin Cities Metro, Western WI, and beyond. Enjoy seamless nationwide co-managed Mac IT support for a flexible work-anywhere experience.
