have been increasingly used in place of passwords, with the aim of making logging into websites and apps faster and more secure. In this guide, we'll look at how you can create, use, view, and delete passkeys on a computer running Windows 11.
But first, let’s look at what passkeys are. Passkeys allow users to access websites and services without typing in usernames and passwords .While it can use biometric authentication to verify a user’s identity, this method is not exactly the same as current technology that automatically fills in login boxes using facial recognition or fingerprints. The technology creates a pair of cryptographic keys (one public and one private) that are associated with a user’s account. Apps and services that support passkeys use the public key to verify a person’s identity by matching it with the private key, which is stored on the user’s device.
See also: X supports passkeys for iOS users in the US
Passkeys have multiple advantages over passwords .The most important is the inability to steal passwords. Another advantage is protection against phishing attacks.
More and more platforms support Passkeys
Many popular websites and apps now support Passkeys, including Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter). More information about which platforms support this feature can be found on this website.
How to create and save passkeys in Windows 11
To create and save a passkey, you first need to visit a website or app's account settings. From there, you'll create the key and then save it to your computer. In this guide, we'll show you how to do this with a account Google.
- Start by opening browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Brave) on your computer.
- Go to Google's My Account website and sign in to your account
- After logging in, from the left sidebar, select “Security”.
- In the right pane, scroll down to the “How You Sign In to Google” section and select “Passkeys and Security Keys.”
- You will probably be asked to enter your account password . Enter it to continue.
- A page will open. At the top, click on “Create a Passkey”.
- You will see a “ Windows Security ” message . Verify yourself using your PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint scan.
- Then, a “Passkey Saved” message will appear. This means that the Passkey for your Google account has been created and saved on your computer.
- Close the window by selecting “OK”.
See also: Bitwarden: Now supports passkeys to access password vaults
How to use passkeys to log in to a website
To use a passkey to log in to a website or app, go to their login page and select passkey instead of password (we'll see this with a Google account).
- Open Google.com and click “Sign In” in the top right corner.
- Enter your Google account username and click “Next”.
- On the password page, click “Try Another Way.”
- Select “Use Your Passkey” to log in to account .
- Select “Continue” and Google will display the “Windows Security” message.
- In the “Windows Security” prompt, select the PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint scan authentication method.
- After you verify yourself, you will be logged into your account.
View and delete Passkeys in Windows 11
If you want to see the passkeys you have saved or want to delete any of them, use the Settings app.
- Open Settings PC. In the left sidebar, click “Accounts.” In the right pane, select “Passkey Settings.”
- On the “ Passkeys ” page , you will see your saved passkeys. Use the search box at the top to find a specific one.
- To delete a passkey, click on the three dots next to it and select “Delete Passkey“.
- Confirm by selecting “Delete” again.
Windows 11 removed the selected password from the database.
See also: Amazon: Adds passkey support as a new login option
Passkeys are more convenient
With passkeys, users no longer have to remember complicated passwords. In addition, security is enhanced . Login details cannot be stolen by hackers in the event of a breach, because the website or app does not know the users' private key. Phishing attempts will also fail because your device will not prompt users to log in unless it receives the public key from the correct, legitimate service.
Passkey is a relatively new authentication system that replaces traditional passwords . Efforts towards a secure password-free future have been underway for the past few years, but are now bearing fruit as more and more companies are now supporting their use.
Source: www.howtogeek.com
