How to Set Up Passkeys on Google, Apple & Microsoft

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Setting up a passkey takes a couple of minutes: in your account’s security settings, choose to add a passkey, then confirm with your device’s fingerprint, face, or PIN — and you can then sign in without a password. Passkeys are faster than passwords and resistant to phishing, and the big three accounts — Google, Apple, and Microsoft — all support them. Here’s how to set them up, step by step.

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Quick recap: what a passkey is

A passkey replaces your password with a cryptographic key stored on your device and unlocked by your fingerprint, face, or device PIN — an open standard from the FIDO Alliance . There’s no secret to phish, leak, or reuse, which is why it’s more secure than even a strong password plus 2FA — as our passkeys vs passwords guide explains.

Before you start

You’ll need:

  • An up-to-date device (recent iOS/Android, Windows 10/11, or macOS).
  • Screen lock enabled — fingerprint, face, or PIN.
  • Optionally, a password manager that syncs passkeys across your devices.

How to set up a passkey on Google

  1. Go to your Google Account → Security.
  2. Find “Passkeys and security keys” (under “How you sign in to Google”).
  3. Select “Create a passkey” and confirm.
  4. Approve with your device’s fingerprint, face, or PIN.

Your passkey is now saved; next time you can sign in without your password. (Google’s help pages cover edge cases.)

How to set up a passkey on Apple

Apple builds passkeys into iCloud Keychain, so they sync across your Apple devices automatically.

  1. Ensure iCloud Keychain and two-factor authentication are on (Settings → your name → iCloud → Passwords and Keychain).
  2. When a supported site or app offers “Sign in with a passkey” or to save one, accept.
  3. Confirm with Face ID or Touch ID.

For Apple accounts and supporting sites, the passkey is created and stored in Keychain (Apple’s guide has details).

How to set up a passkey on Microsoft

  1. Go to your Microsoft account → Security.
  2. Choose “Add a new way to sign in” and select passkey (face, fingerprint, or PIN).
  3. Follow the prompts and confirm with your device.

Microsoft also lets you remove the password from personal accounts once passwordless sign-in is set up.

Using passkeys across devices

  • Same ecosystem — passkeys sync automatically (iCloud Keychain for Apple, Google Password Manager for Android/Chrome).
  • Cross-platform — a third-party password manager that supports passkeys keeps them available everywhere.
  • Another device — you can often sign in by scanning a QR code with your phone, which authorises the login.

Tips and troubleshooting

  • Keep one backup sign-in method while passkeys are still rolling out everywhere.
  • Lost device? Synced passkeys are recoverable through your account/manager; device-only keys are not, so use sync or keep a backup.
  • Don’t see the option? Update your OS and browser — passkey support improves with each version.

The bottom line

Setting up passkeys on Google, Apple, and Microsoft is quick: open the account’s security settings, add a passkey, and confirm with your fingerprint, face, or PIN. You get faster sign-ins and phishing-resistant security, with passkeys syncing across your devices through your ecosystem or password manager. Keep a backup method for now, and add passkeys to your most important accounts first.

FAQs

  • Open your account's security settings, choose the option to add or create a passkey, and confirm with your device's fingerprint, face, or PIN. The passkey is then saved to your device or password manager, letting you sign in without a password.
  • Yes. Within one ecosystem they sync automatically — iCloud Keychain for Apple, Google Password Manager for Android and Chrome. A cross-platform password manager that supports passkeys keeps them available everywhere, and you can often sign in on another device by scanning a QR code with your phone.
  • If your passkeys sync through iCloud Keychain, Google, or a password manager, you can recover them on a new device by signing into that account. Passkeys stored only on a single device aren't recoverable, so syncing or keeping a backup sign-in method is important.
  • For now, often yes, as a backup while passkeys roll out across services. Some accounts, including Microsoft and Google, let you go fully passwordless once a passkey is set up. Keeping one backup method is wise during the transition.
  • Yes. Passkeys use cryptographic keys unlocked by your fingerprint, face, or PIN, so there's no password to phish, leak in a breach, or reuse. That makes them resistant to phishing and the most secure mainstream sign-in method available.