SIGN IN WITH PASSKEYS ON YOUR PHONE & PC
iPhone and iPad
Apple introduced support for passkeys in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 last year, and refined the feature with the release of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 in September. They work on all iPhones and iPads that run those operating systems, and are stored in your iCloud Keychain, so you can access your passkeys on all devices you’re signed into with your Apple ID.
To use passkeys on your iPhone or iPad, you first need to turn on two-factor authentication. Although passkeys are an alternative to traditional 2FA, they still require you to set up your device as ‘trusted’. Open the Settings app, tap your name, and choose ‘Sign-In & Security’. Select ‘ Turn On Two-Factor Authentication’, then tap Continue and follow the instructions to add your iPhone or iPad as a trusted device.
You also need to activate iCloud Keychain to sync your passkeys across devices, and ensure you can use them should you lose your iPhone or iPad. Tap your name in the Settings app, select iCloud, then ‘ Passwords and Keychain’ (see screenshot above right), and turn on iCloud Keychain (you may need to sign in with your Apple ID).
You can now create and save passkeys for any websites and apps that support them. As we’ll explain later, the steps vary between services, but you should find the option to set up a passkey in your account settings. This will use your default method for unlocking your iPhone or iPad, such as Touch ID, Face ID (see screenshot below), or a passcode, so you can sign into the site or app without entering your password. Simply tap the username field on the signin screen, and use your passkey method to confirm your identity. All the passkeys you create are stored in the Passwords section of your iOS device’s Settings app.
To use your saved passkeys to sign in on a device that isn’t associated with your Apple ID, such as a Windows PC, enter your username on the sign-in screen and select ‘Other options’, ‘Passkey from nearby device’, or similar. Follow the on-screen instructions to display a QR code, and scan it with the camera on your iPhone or iPad. The passkey saved in your iCloud Keychain will complete the login process. You can create passkeys on nonApple devices in the same way.
Android phone and tablet
Android 14, which began rolling out on October 14, brings improved support for passkeys by allowing more apps, such as third-party password managers, to create and store them. But as with previous versions of the mobile operating system, it will be several months before most Android users receive the update, but newer phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 line have also recently received the update.
In the meantime, you can access passkeys on your Android phone or tablet through Chrome, and also use them to sign into your Google account(s) (provided you have screen lock enabled on your device).
When you visit a passkey-supporting website in Chrome and enter your username or email address, you’ll see the option to ‘Create a passkey’. Tap this, then use your preferred screen-lock method—Fingerprint, Face Unlock, PIN or Pattern—to secure your account.
Passkeys are automatically saved to Google Password Manager in Chrome and synced across other devices on which you’re signed into the browser. This enables you to use your phone or tablet to log into sites on your desktop PC by scanning a QR code with your camera. Choose to skip the QR code next time (see screenshot above left), and you’ll be able to apply your passkey simply by tapping a notification.
You should see the option to ‘Simplify your sign-in’ with a passkey when you next log into your Google account. If not, go to tinyurl.com/6f9ahff3 in any browser (desktop or mobile), select ‘Get passkeys’, and sign into your Google account. Choose ‘Continue’, confirm your passkey security method, and select ‘Use passkeys’ (see screenshot left). You can now sign into your Google account without a password—a ‘Skip password when possible’ option will be turned on in your account settings.
Windows PC and laptop
Microsoft officially added passkeys to Windows 11 with the release of the Moment 4 update in September. You’ll find the new option by opening the Settings app, selecting Accounts, then scrolling down to ‘Passkeys settings’ at the bottom of the ‘Account settings’ section.
However, Windows 10 users need not feel left out, because the passkeys feature is effectively an extension of Windows Hello, which offers passwordfree sign-in on both operating systems using your fingerprint, face, a PIN, or a physical security key. The big difference is that Windows 11 lets you create and autofill passkeys for supported websites and apps (see screenshot above right), so they can be applied with a single click, while Windows Hello in Windows 10 is primarily used to sign into your PC and Microsoft account.
When you register with or sign into a site, or open an app that supports passkeys, Windows 11 will give you the option to save a passkey using your default Hello method—remember that you’ll need a fingerprint reader or compatible webcam (see tinyurl.com/5fjprtew) to sign with your finger or face. You can also select ‘Use another device’ to save the passkey to your iPhone or iPad by scanning a QR code, or to a linked Android phone or tablet. Choose ‘Sign in with a passkey’ to access the site or app.
In Windows 10, you can still sign into websites with passkeys using the options provided by your mobile device, but you won’t be able to manage them on your PC through Windows Hello. You can, however, store passkeys on a USB security key—see page 33 for the best options.