A passkey lets you sign in by unlocking a trusted device instead of typing a password. It is faster than a password and harder to steal because there is no shared secret to type into a fake website.
Does this affect you?
Use this for iPhone, Mac, Android, Windows 11, or a password manager when a site or app offers Create a passkey, Set up a passkey, or Use passkey.
Set up a passkey on iPhone or Mac
Apple stores these passkeys in iCloud Keychain so they can sync to your other Apple devices.
- Open the site or app account settings.
- Look for Security, Sign-in options, Passkeys, or Create a passkey.
- Choose Set up a passkey.
- Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or the device passcode.
- The passkey is saved in iCloud Keychain for devices signed into the same Apple ID.
- Next time, sign in by approving Face ID, Touch ID, or the passcode prompt instead of typing a password.
Set up a passkey on Android or Google
Google Password Manager stores and syncs passkeys for Android and Chrome users.
- For a Google Account, open myaccount.google.com > Security > Passkeys and security keys.
- For another service, open that service’s security settings and choose Passkeys.
- Tap Create a passkey or Use passkey.
- Confirm with fingerprint, face unlock, or screen lock PIN.
- The passkey saves to Google Password Manager and can work on other signed-in Android or Chrome devices.
Set up a passkey on Windows or a password manager
Windows Hello and many dedicated managers can store passkeys.
- On Windows 11, set up Windows Hello under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- In the site or app security settings, choose Set up a passkey.
- When asked where to save it, choose This device to use Windows Hello.
- Confirm with Windows Hello PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition.
- If you use 1Password, Bitwarden, or another manager with passkey support, choose that manager as the save location when offered.
More control
Passkeys can survive a lost phone
If passkeys sync through iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, or a password manager, another signed-in device may still have them. That is easier than losing a single physical key.
Support is still uneven
Large services increasingly support passkeys, but many smaller sites still do not. Use a unique password and two-factor authentication where passkeys are unavailable.
Passkeys replace passwords for sign-in
A passkey is normally a password replacement, not just a second step. Some sites may still ask for extra confirmation for sensitive actions.
Sources
- FIDO Alliance – Passkeys (2025)
- Apple Support – About passkeys (2025)
- Google – Passkeys (2025)