Microsoft has announced the rollout of passkey support for all Microsoft consumer accounts for simple and safe access. Passkeys are digitally created authentication tokens stored on devices for better safety. Apple, Google, Amazon, and even Meta (for WhatsApp) have adopted the technology.
Microsoft Passkey Integration: Explained
The passkeys will help users sign in to their accounts in a process similar to unlocking a smartphone. Microsoft predicts that passkeys will soon replace passwords in the upcoming years. The company adds that users can access their Microsoft accounts using a device PIN and face and fingerprint authentication on the Windows, Google, and Apple platforms.
What Is a Passkey?
Passkeys can protect users from malicious attacks. Passkey uses two unique keys, known as cryptographic key pairs, where one key is stored on your device and guarded by biometrics, and the other key is stored within the application or website. This dismisses the need to create a new password or reset an old one.
Users can only sign in with both parts of the key, similar to how bank lockers operate. Here are the steps to create a passkey for your Microsoft account.
- On your device, visit the link to create the passkey.
- Choose the desired option: face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key.
- Once chosen, now select your device to save the passkey.
- Now sign in to your Microsoft account from any browser and choose the method that you have set to login to in step number 2.
Starting today, users can log in to their accounts in Microsoft apps and games, including Microsoft 365 and Copilot, on desktop and mobile browsers. Passkey support for mobile apps is expected to roll out in the upcoming weeks.
