Microsoft has revealed a new feature to mark World Password Day. All consumer accounts on Microsoft now come with Passkeys support.
Last year, Microsoft initially launched Passkeys support in Windows 11, limited to a few services like Gmail. Now, all consumer accounts, particularly for home users, can use Passkeys for passwordless login to Microsoft accounts. Interestingly, it took Microsoft a year to add support for its own services.
Passkeys allow logging in to Microsoft apps and websites on both desktop and mobile browsers. They can also be used with Microsoft 365 and Copilot. Passkeys secure account credentials using a cryptographic key pair, one securely stored on the device and the other held by the website. This approach enhances security by requiring both keys for access, making Passkeys more resistant to phishing attempts compared to traditional passwords, which are susceptible to theft, leaks, and hacks.
Steps to Enable Passkey for Your Microsoft Account
1. Visit the Security page of your Microsoft account.
2. A window will appear with different options.
3. Choose to sign in using a passkey with facial or fingerprint recognition, set up a PIN, or use a security key.
4. Decide where to store the passkey from three methods: biometric data, phone for PIN setup, or a security key like YubiKey.
Note: You can also store your Passkey in third-party apps such as Bitwarden Password Manager.
5. Scan the QR code displayed with your phone’s camera to securely save the passkey on your device.
6. Once configured, you can use the passkey for logging in without entering your password on various browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
In case you lose your device, you can use your password to log in and deactivate the passkey. While mobile versions of Microsoft’s apps do not currently support passkeys, Microsoft plans to add this feature to its Android and iOS apps in the coming weeks.
Google Reports Over One Billion Passkey Uses in Less Than a Year
Google revealed that Passkeys were utilized for more than a billion authentications across 400 million Google Accounts in under a year. Google is expanding passkey support to its Advanced Protection Program (APP) to bolster security for high-risk individuals such as campaign workers, journalists, and human rights workers.
Passkeys are becoming popular as password managers like Bitwarden, KeePassXC, 1Password, and Dashlane also integrate Passkey support. WhatsApp Messenger recently introduced the passwordless login option to its iOS app after adding it to the Android app last year.
Image Source: Volodymyr Kyrylyuk / Shutterstock
