Learn About Creating Paskeys on Your Device

Understanding What Passkeys Are and How They Work

Passkeys are a modern way to sign into your accounts without using traditional passwords. Instead of remembering a complex string of characters, passkeys use technology built into your device to verify your identity. When you create a passkey, your device generates a unique digital key pair—one part stays on your device, and the other part is stored by the service you're signing into.

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The technology behind passkeys relies on something called public-key cryptography. This means the service you're logging into doesn't store a password that someone could steal or hack. Instead, when you try to log in, your device proves it has the matching key without ever sharing that key with the service. This is fundamentally different from passwords, where the actual password is stored somewhere and could potentially be exposed if that storage location gets hacked.

Passkeys work across many different devices and platforms. Major technology companies including Apple, Google, and Microsoft have built passkey support into their operating systems. This means you might create a passkey on your iPhone and later use that same passkey to log into a website on your computer. The systems work together to make this possible, though the specific mechanics differ slightly depending on which devices and platforms you're using.

One important characteristic of passkeys is that they're tied to specific websites or apps. Unlike a password you might reuse across multiple services, each passkey is created specifically for one service. This means even if someone could somehow get one of your passkeys, they couldn't use it to access your other accounts. The passkey for your email account is completely separate from the passkey for your banking app.

Practical Takeaway: Passkeys represent a shift from memorizing passwords to having your device manage authentication. They provide a more secure way to prove who you are online because the actual key never gets transmitted to or stored on a service's servers the way passwords are.

Getting Started: Checking Device Compatibility and Settings

Before you can create passkeys, you need to verify that your device supports this feature. Most modern devices do, but the specific requirements vary. For iPhones and iPads, you need iOS 16 or later to use passkeys. For Android phones, you need Android 9 or higher, though newer versions have better passkey support. For computers running Windows, you need Windows 10 or later. Mac users should have macOS 13 or later.

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You should also check which accounts you currently have that support passkeys. Not every website or app has implemented passkey support yet, though adoption is growing. Major services like Google, Microsoft, Apple, PayPal, and many banks now offer passkey options. To find out if a specific service you use supports passkeys, visit their account settings and look for security or sign-in options. Many services label this section as "Security and login" or "Account protection."

On your device, you'll need to make sure you have a way to verify your identity. For iPhones, this means Face ID or Touch ID must be set up. For Android devices, you'll need fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, or a PIN set up on your device. For computers, you'll need to have a password, PIN, or biometric authentication enabled. This verification step is important because it ensures that even if someone gets access to your device, they still can't use your passkeys without going through your device's security.

You should also ensure your device is updated to the latest version of its operating system. Passkey technology continues to improve, and updates often include better security features and broader compatibility. Checking for updates is straightforward: on iPhones, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Android, go to Settings > About Phone > System Update. On Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update.

Practical Takeaway: Before creating your first passkey, verify your device is recent enough, check that you have biometric or PIN authentication set up, and confirm the specific account you want to use supports passkeys. This preparation takes just a few minutes and prevents frustration later.

Creating Your First Passkey: Step-by-Step Process

The process for creating a passkey is similar across most websites and apps, though specific wording and menu locations vary slightly. Start by logging into the account where you want to create a passkey using your existing password or sign-in method. Navigate to your account settings—this is often found by clicking your profile picture or name in the upper corner of the website or in the app menu.

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Once you're in account settings, look for a section about security, sign-in options, or authentication methods. Different services use different names for this section. Google calls it "Security," Microsoft uses "Account security settings," and Apple refers to it as "Sign-in and security." Within this section, you should find an option to add a passkey or enable passkey authentication. Some services label this as "Create a passkey," while others say "Add a sign-in method" or "Set up passwordless sign-in."

When you click on the passkey option, your device will be prompted to create the passkey. If you're on your phone, it will likely ask you to verify your identity using your fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN. Complete this verification step. Your device will then generate the passkey and confirm that it has been created. You'll typically see a message saying something like "Your passkey has been saved" or "Passkey created successfully."

After the passkey is created, the service might ask you to name it or might name it automatically based on your device type and name. For example, it might appear as "iPhone 14" or "Sarah's MacBook." This name is just for your reference so you can identify which device a passkey was created on if you end up with multiple passkeys for the same account. You can usually edit this name later if you want to change it to something more meaningful.

Practical Takeaway: Creating a passkey takes about two minutes and follows the same basic pattern: log in, find security settings, choose the passkey option, verify your identity, and confirm. Most services guide you through the process with clear prompts, so you don't need to memorize any steps.

Using Your Passkey to Sign In on Different Devices

Once you've created a passkey, signing in with it is often faster and more straightforward than using a password. When you go to sign into an account that supports passkeys, you'll typically see sign-in options that include using your passkey. On websites, you might see a button that says "Sign in with passkey" or "Use passkey." Click on this option rather than entering a password.

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If you're signing in on the same device where you created the passkey, the process is very straightforward. Your device will ask you to verify your identity using your biometric authentication or PIN. Once you complete this verification, you'll be signed in immediately. This is typically faster than typing a password because your device already has the passkey stored locally.

Signing in on a different device is also possible, but works somewhat differently depending on which devices you're using. If you're signing into a website on your computer and your passkey is stored on your iPhone, the system will typically prompt you to verify on your iPhone. You'll see a notification on your iPhone asking you to approve the sign-in. Verify your identity on your iPhone, and you'll be signed in on your computer. This requires that both devices are connected to the internet and use the same account (Apple account, Google account, Microsoft account, etc.).

If you're using an Android phone and a computer, or mixing devices from different manufacturers, the process might be slightly different. Some services may show a QR code on your computer that you scan with your phone to approve the sign-in. Others might use Bluetooth to communicate between devices. The core principle remains the same: your phone verifies your identity, and this verification is used to complete sign-in on the other device.

Practical Takeaway: Passkey sign-in is faster than password sign-in on the same device, and signing in on other devices is possible through a verification step on your original device. This cross-device functionality means you don't lose convenience even when using multiple devices.

Managing Multiple Passkeys and Device Changes

As you create more passkeys across different devices and services, you may accumulate multiple passkeys for the same account. For example, you might have a passkey for your email on your iPhone, another on your iPad, and another on your computer.

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