Microsoft has announced the complete rollout of passkey support for all consumer accounts, marking a significant step towards a passwordless future. This feature, first introduced in Windows 11, now extends across various platforms, including Windows, Android, and iOS, simplifying the login process for users.
Users can now generate passkeys for their Microsoft accounts, allowing them to sign in without the need to enter a password each time. This can be done by using biometric identifiers such as facial recognition or fingerprint scans, a PIN, or a security key. The setup process is straightforward and can be initiated by following a specific link provided by Microsoft.
Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president of Microsoft security, compliance, and identity, stated, “Today, you can use a passkey to sign in to Microsoft apps and websites, including Microsoft 365 and Copilot on desktop and mobile browsers.” He also noted that support for signing into mobile versions of Microsoft applications with passkeys will be available in the coming weeks.
The introduction of Windows Hello in 2015 with Windows 10 enabled users to access their PCs via facial recognition, fingerprint, or PIN. Subsequent enhancements included support for FIDO security keys in April 2018 and a fully passwordless option for Microsoft accounts in 2021. Passkeys are now a standard across the industry, with major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft adopting them. Google, for example, has reported that over 400 million accounts have utilised passkeys, underscoring their growing popularity as an alternative to traditional passwords.
