Passkeys and Touch ID

Creating and using Passkeys is far easier and more reliable when your Mac uses Touch ID biometric authentication.

If your Mac can do that, but you’re yet to use it, now’s the time to enable it in System Settings > Touch ID & Password > Touch ID. You can add more fingerprints there to provide handy alternatives; it’s sometimes useful to be able to use fingers on either hand.

Although all recent Apple devices include Touch or Face ID, Touch ID support is patchy on Intel Macs. All Intel notebooks with a Touch Bar should work well, but no Intel desktops currently work with Apple’s most recent wireless keyboards featuring Touch ID buttons. Even if your Mac does have hardware support, replacing its regular keyboard for one with Touch ID is expensive, and there aren’t third-party alternatives yet.