Microsoft has announced that all of its consumer accounts can use passkeys for their own passwordless logins. Google and Apple have already shown us the future where passwords are not needed and your phone’s biometric security is enough to use all your accounts. Microsoft is offering passkeys in the same way, which is basically a form of digital authentication that is stored on the device itself.
Microsoft Passkeys Support: How It Works
Passkeys are essentially removing the purpose of passwords which many people have a tough time remembering for 10-15 accounts they rely on every day.
Many would suggest that password managers are a strong alternative to such practices, but the new-age standards being discussed takes the whole mechanism to a different level, which the companies believe will be more convenient and secure.
Apple, Google and Microsoft have realised the need to think beyond passwords and did so with this FIDO alliance in 2022. Passwords are also frequently compromised in security breaches. Stronger passwords are more secure, but only if you choose ones that are unique, complex and non-obvious. And once you’ve settled on “erVex411$%” as your password, good luck remembering it.
The FIDO login basically allows users to use their smartphone as the one-stop login medium for all digital accounts. Now, you are able to sign in to your Gmail or Outlook account using your phone’s 4/6-digit passcode, finger ID or face ID.
Google designed its passkeys to work with a variety of devices, so you can use them on iPhones, Macs and Windows computers as well as Google’s own Android phones. Microsoft is offering the same for its users on services like Outlook and Microsoft 365 logins which lets you access apps like Word, Excel and more.
Microsoft Passkey Login: How It Would Look For You
Just to give a realistic picture, signing into a Microsoft account will only require you to enter your email address. If you’ve gotten passkeys set up properly, you’ll simply get a message on your phone or other device asking you for your fingerprint, your face or a PIN.
Microsoft is supporting passkeys on websites and mobile browsers for now, with apps getting the compatibility in the near future.
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