Passkeys: how to set up and sign in
Watch the video and follow the steps to create a passkey and sign in without typing a password.
What is a passkey?
A passkey is a digital key for your account. Your phone or password manager uses it to sign you in when you confirm it’s you.
Why use passkeys instead of passwords?
Better protection
With a password login, someone can try to steal your password through a fake sign-in page. If you have reused that password, they can also try it on your other accounts. Passkeys are tied to the real website, which helps protect against phishing and avoids this password-reuse risk.
Your fingerprint, face data and phone PIN are checked on your device. They are not sent to the website.
Easier day-to-day sign-in
With passwords, each account needs a password that you must remember or keep in a manager. With a passkey, you approve sign-in on your phone or in your password manager, without choosing or typing an account password.
If your passkeys sync through your Apple or Google account, or a password manager, they can be available on other compatible devices using that same account. This makes it easier to sign in across devices and move to a new phone, rather than relying on a passkey saved only on one computer.
Before you start
The video shows the website open on your computer, with your passkey saved on your phone.
We recommend saving passkeys to your Apple or Google account on your phone. A password manager that supports passkeys also works. Avoid keeping your only copy on one computer.
Set up your passkey
Keep your phone and computer close together, with Bluetooth on for both.
- Open the setup link from your administrator on your computer and select Create a passkey or Register passkey.
- Choose your phone. Look for Other options or Use another device if it is not listed. In the video, closing a password manager prompt reveals the device chooser. Your browser may show these options differently.
- Open your phone’s camera and scan the QR code on your computer. Tap the message that appears on your phone.
- Confirm with your face, fingerprint or phone PIN, then wait for the website to confirm that your passkey has been created.
To save the passkey in a password manager instead, accept the manager’s save prompt.
Sign in with your passkey
Open the system’s sign-in page. Enter your email or username if asked, then choose Sign in with a passkey.
On a computer
- Keep your phone and computer close together, with Bluetooth on for both. Choose your phone from the sign-in options.
- Scan the new QR code with your phone’s camera and tap the message that appears.
- Confirm with your face, fingerprint or phone PIN to finish signing in.
On your phone
If you open the website on the phone where your passkey is saved, select the saved passkey and confirm it’s you. There is no QR code to scan.
With a password manager
Unlock your password manager, select the passkey for your account and approve the sign-in.
New phone, lost device or missing passkey?
If your passkeys sync through your Apple or Google account, or a password manager, they can be available on a new phone when you sign in to that same account. Check that you can sign in on the new phone before erasing the old one.
A passkey saved only on one device will not appear automatically on a replacement. If you cannot access your passkey, ask the system’s administrator for help. Tell them if your device was lost or stolen.
If something does not work
- No passkey appears: choose the phone or password manager where you saved it.
- The QR code will not connect: keep both devices nearby with Bluetooth on for both, check their internet connections and try a fresh code.
- The setup link does not work: ask your administrator to check the link.
Still stuck? Contact the administrator of the system you are trying to access and tell them what happens when you try to sign in.
Read the video transcript
A passkey lets you log in without typing a password.
You can keep it on your phone, in a password manager, or on one computer.
We recommend your phone, with passkeys saved to your Apple or Google account. A password manager also works. Avoid keeping your only copy on one computer.
First, let’s set it up. You only do this once.
On your computer, click Create a passkey.
A password manager may appear, such as Bitwarden, LastPass or Keeper. It’s offering to save your passkey.
To use your phone instead, click the X to close this window. Then choose your phone in the next window.
Keep both devices nearby, with Bluetooth on.
Open your phone’s camera. Point it at the square code on your computer.
Tap the message on your phone. Confirm it’s you with your face, fingerprint, or phone PIN.
That’s setup finished.
Next time you log in, click Sign in with a passkey.
Your password manager may pop up again.
If you want to use your phone, close this window with the X.
Choose your phone in the next window.
Open your phone’s camera and scan the new code.
Tap the message, then confirm it’s you.
You’re logged in.
New phone? If your passkeys were saved to your Apple or Google account, they can return when you recover access to that account.
Need help? Ask your administrator. Codename.