Whether you use your Microsoft account for personal, professional, or educational purposes, keeping it safe should be your first concern. Although having strong, unique passwords is essential for security, it can get challenging to remember them all over time. For that reason, Microsoft released passkeys as a more secure login option.
How is a Passkey different from a Password?
Passkeys, unlike text usernames and passwords, cannot be reused, guessed, or stolen through phishing, making them a more secure authentication method. So, even if someone attempts to log in using a different device, login would be refused as the passkeys would not match. It makes use of public key cryptography, a kind of encryption. Using a passkey simplifies the login process, allowing authentication via your device’s PIN or biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition instead of typing a password.
How to Set Up a Passkey on Your Microsoft Account
Given below are step-by-step methods to set up a passkey on your Microsoft Account:
1] Sign in to your Microsoft
Start by signing in to your Microsoft account using your credentials.
2] Access Security Options
Click the Security option from the left pane and select the Manage how I sign in button under Account.
3] Add a New Sign-In Option
On the next page, scroll down and click the Add a new way to sign in or verify link.
4] Choose Your Passkey Method
Click the first Face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key option to use your device to sign in with a passkey.
5] Follow On-Screen Instructions
Once you have added the new way to sign in using a passkey, you can choose where to save the passkey. You can create a security key or save the passkey on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
Once you have finished setting up the passkey, you can use the passkey the next time you log in to your Microsoft account.
How to delete a passkey?
If you wish to remove a saved passkey in your Microsoft account, follow the steps given below:
- In your Microsoft account, navigate to the Security option.
- Scroll down and click Use a passkey on the Security page.
- Click the Remove button. Click Remove again when prompted, and click OK to remove the passkey from your Microsoft account. Next time you log in, you will not require a passkey to log in to your Microsoft account.
Conclusion
So, using the new sign-in option on your Microsoft account, you can set up a passkey, which is safer than using a password.
