How to use passkeys in your browser for faster, safer logins

Passwords are slowly being replaced by a simpler and more secure option called passkeys. Instead of typing a password, you confirm your identity with your phone, fingerprint, face or a device PIN, and the browser handles the rest.

This guide explains what passkeys are in practical terms and shows how to set them up and use them in popular desktop and mobile browsers.

What a passkey actually is and why it is safer

A passkey is a digital key pair stored on your device and linked to a specific account, such as your email or a shopping site. When you sign in, the website checks that your key matches, but the secret part never leaves your device.

Unlike passwords, passkeys cannot be reused on different sites, are not visible to you, and are very hard to steal with phishing links or data breaches. If an attacker tricks you into visiting a fake site, your browser will not offer the passkey because the web address does not match.

What you need before setting up passkeys

To use passkeys in a browser, you should have a few basics in place. First, make sure your device has a secure screen lock, like a PIN, fingerprint or face unlock, and that you are comfortable using it often.

Second, update your operating system and browser to a recent version, as passkey support is still improving. Finally, check that the sites you use support passkeys, often shown in the account security or sign in options pages.

Turning on passkey support in major browsers

Most modern browsers support passkeys, but the settings are sometimes hidden. In Chrome and other Chromium based browsers on desktop, open the settings menu, go to security or privacy and look for options related to password manager and passkeys.

On Safari for macOS and iOS, passkeys are tied to iCloud Keychain, so you enable them by turning on Keychain in system settings and allowing Safari to use it. On Firefox, support is available but may depend on the platform and current version, so check the security section in settings.

Setting up a passkey for a website

Once your browser supports passkeys, you create them on a site by signing in as usual. Go to the site’s account or security settings and look for options called passkeys, passwordless sign in or security keys.

When you choose to create a passkey, your browser will prompt you to confirm using your device authentication, such as your fingerprint or PIN. After you approve, the passkey is stored and linked to your account, ready for future logins.

Using your browser’s built in password or passkey manager

Browsers now store passkeys alongside passwords in their built in managers. In settings, you can usually open a passwords or credentials page that lists all saved accounts, and passkeys will appear with a different label.

Here you can review which sites have passkeys, remove old ones or change default behaviors like automatic sign in. It is a good idea to occasionally check this list and delete passkeys for services you no longer use.

Signing in with a passkey on desktop

After a passkey is set up, the sign in process becomes simpler. Visit the website, click sign in, and if the site supports passkeys, you will see an option like sign in with a passkey or use device.

The browser will show a prompt to use a saved passkey, and you confirm with your fingerprint reader, face ID or device PIN. If you share the computer with others, make sure that only your user profile has access to your browser data and that your system account has its own password.

Signing in with a passkey on your phone

On smartphones, passkeys integrate tightly with the system. When you visit a site in a mobile browser or installed app that supports passkeys, a prompt usually appears at the bottom of the screen showing accounts that have passkeys available.

You tap the account, unlock your phone as usual and you are signed in without typing anything. If you have multiple accounts for one service, label them clearly in the account name so you can pick the right one quickly.

Syncing passkeys across devices safely

Many platforms let you sync passkeys between your devices through their cloud service, so a passkey created on your phone can be used on your laptop. This is convenient, but it means your main cloud account becomes more important to protect.

Turn on strong two factor authentication for that account, preferably using an authentication app or hardware security key. Also keep device backups and recovery options updated, in case you lose access to one device and need to restore credentials.

What to do if a passkey stops working

Sometimes a passkey may fail, for example after a major device reset or account change. In that case, look on the sign in page for alternative options like use password instead or try another way to sign in.

Once you are back in, you can remove the old passkey from the account’s security settings and create a new one. If you have completely lost access to all login methods, contact the service support and be ready to verify your identity using backup email, phone or recovery codes.

Balancing passkeys with passwords and two factor codes

Passkeys are intended to reduce dependence on passwords, but you do not need to switch everything at once. It is reasonable to start with a few important accounts, keep passwords as backup where allowed, and add two factor protection where possible.

Over time, as more sites support passkeys and your browsers manage them more smoothly, you can gradually move more logins to this system and rely less on memorizing complex passwords.