What Are Passkeys and How to Use Them Instead of Passwords
Passkeys are a safer, easier way to log in to websites and apps without typing a password — here is how they work in plain English.
What a passkey looks like
~15sCreate a passkey on a website that offers it
~15sYour phone saves the passkey automatically
~15sUsing your passkey next time
~16sQuick Tip
If you get a new phone, your passkeys transfer automatically with your iCloud or Google account backup.
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A passkey is a new way to log in to websites and apps that does not require you to type a password. Instead of remembering a password, your phone or computer does the work for you. When you want to log in, your device asks you to use your fingerprint, Face ID, or PIN — the same way you already unlock your phone. That is it. No password to remember, no password to forget, and no password for a hacker to steal.
Here is why passkeys are safer than passwords: hackers cannot "steal" a passkey the way they steal passwords, because no password is ever sent across the internet. Your phone holds a special digital "key" that only works on the exact website it was created for. This means that even if a scammer sends you a fake login page, your passkey will not work on the fake site — giving you an automatic layer of protection against phishing scams.
More and more major websites now offer passkeys: Google, Apple, Microsoft, PayPal, eBay, and many others. When you log in and a website says "Do you want to save a passkey for next time?" — tap Yes. Your phone will save it automatically. Next time you visit that site, just tap "Sign in with passkey" and use your fingerprint or Face ID. If you use an iPhone, your passkeys are stored in iCloud Keychain and work across all your Apple devices. If you use Android, Google Password Manager keeps your passkeys safe and ready. Think of passkeys as a high-tech key that only your device can use — and it is free, already built into your phone.
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