Passkeys: The Password Replacement You Need to Know About

Passwords have been around since the ea​​​​‍‍‍​‍​​​​‍‍​‍‍​​‍‍‍​‍‍​​‍‍‍​‍‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍​​‍‍​‍​​‍‍‍‍​‍‍​​‍‍‍​rly days of the internet. And for just as long, they've been a headache — hard to remember, easy to steal, and never quite secure enough.

In 2026, there's a better option that's quietly spreading across the web: passkeys. Here's what they are, why they're safer, and what you need to do.

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What Is a Passkey?

A passkey is a new way to log into websites and apps without typing a password at all.

Instead of a password, your device — your phone or computer — holds a secret digital key. When you log in, your device proves it's really you using something you already do every day:

• Your fingerprint
• Your face (Face ID)
• Your device PIN

That's it. No password to remember. No password to forget. No password for a scammer to steal.

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Why Passkeys Are Safer Than Passwords

Passwords have a fundamental problem: they can be stolen. Hackers steal them from websites, trick you into typing them on fake login pages, or simply guess them.

Passkeys solve this because:

• The secret never leaves your device. Websites never see your passkey — only a confirmation that you authenticated correctly.
• Phishing doesn't work. Even if a scammer tricks you onto a fake website, there's no password to type and steal.
• There's nothing to forget or reuse. Each passkey is unique and generated automatically.

Passkeys are considered the most significant improvement in everyday online security in decades. Major tech companies including Apple, Google, and Microsoft have all adopted them.

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Where Can You Use Passkeys Today?

Passkeys are already supported by many major services, including:

• Google / Gmail
• Apple ID
• Microsoft accounts
• Amazon
• PayPal
• Best Buy, Walmart, and other retailers
• Many banks and financial apps

The list grows every month. When a service supports passkeys, you'll usually see an option to set one up in your account security settings.

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How to Set Up a Passkey (Step by Step)

The exact steps vary by service, but the general process is the same everywhere:

1. Go to your account settings for the website or app
2. Look for a section called Security, Sign-In, or Password & Security
3. Find the option for Passkeys — it may also say Face ID sign-in or Fingerprint login
4. Follow the prompts — your phone will ask you to confirm with your fingerprint, face, or PIN
5. Done. Next time you log in, just use your face or fingerprint instead of a password

Example: Setting up a passkey for Google on iPhone

1. Open Safari and go to myaccount.google.com
2. Tap Security → Passkeys
3. Tap Create a passkey
4. Confirm with Face ID or your fingerprint
5. Next time you sign into Google, tap Use passkey instead of entering a password

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Do I Still Need My Passwords?

For now, yes — but less and less over time.

• Passkeys replace passwords on the services where you set them up
• For services that don't yet support passkeys, you still need a regular password
• It's a good idea to keep a password manager (like the one built into your iPhone or Google account) as a backup

Think of passkeys as a gradual transition. Each one you set up is one fewer password to worry about.

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What If I Get a New Phone?

This is a common concern — and the answer is reassuring.

• If you use an iPhone, your passkeys are stored in iCloud Keychain and automatically transfer to your new iPhone when you sign in with your Apple ID
• If you use Android, passkeys sync through your Google account
• You can also store passkeys in a password manager app like 1Password or Dashlane, which works across devices

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Quick Recap

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Related articles: Password Managers Explained: Why You Need One Now · Two-Factor Authentication Made Easy · Privacy & Data Security