I hate passwords. I know you do, too. Tech companies know we all do — and they’re finally doing something about it. Good timing, given how fast AI can crack passwords now, eh?
Passkeys use your device’s built-in security, like the fingerprint scanner on your phone or facial recognition on your laptop, to make online access tighter than the passwords you struggle to remember.
Let’s look at how passkeys work and how to start using them. Bye-bye, passwords. We never loved you. We’re not going to miss you, either.
What exactly is a passkey?
Think of it as a team-up. One part’s with the website or app you’re accessing, while the other’s safely on your device. To use the private passkey, you must prove you’re you through a PIN or biometrics.
It’s great that they’re easy to use, but it’s even better that hackers have difficulty defeating them.
“But Kim, what if I lose my phone?” Don’t panic. It’s like current password systems: You can have backups. And if all your devices go missing, you still have traditional passwords to fall back on.
Google Passkey basics
Have a Google account? You can try passkeys right now.
Some devices might already be set up with their own — you can turn those on or make new ones. Pro tip: Stick to using this on personal devices. Don’t set it up on your work computer or a shared device.
Set this up on your iPhone, too
You just need to have iCloud Keychain turned on and 2FA enabled to use Passkey.
To sign in to an account on your iPhone with a passkey:
- Tap the account name field on the sign-in screen for the website or app you’re logging into. Tap the account suggested at the bottom of the screen or near the top of the keyboard.
- If your iPhone has Touch ID, follow the onscreen instructions to verify your identity. Otherwise, Face ID verifies your identity.
Welcome to the future where passwords don’t exist anymore. Just kidding, they still do for now … so make sure yours don’t stink!
