Microsoft is bringing a significant upgrade to the way Windows 11 handles passkeys, aiming for a smoother and more secure online experience. According to a recent blog post, the company is expanding its passkey support, granting users greater control over how their passkeys are saved and where they’re stored. This means users can choose to store their passkeys locally on their Windows 11 devices, through a third-party password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden, or even a combination of both.
To further enhance the user experience, Microsoft is introducing a new API that will allow third-party password managers to seamlessly integrate with Windows’ passkey functionality. This will provide a more unified and streamlined password management experience across different platforms.
For a simplified login process, Windows Hello will guide users through a one-time setup for each passkey-compatible website, using their Microsoft account. Once set up, users can effortlessly log in to websites and applications across all their Windows 11 devices using their preferred authentication method—PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition.
To ensure the utmost security, all passkeys will be protected with end-to-end encryption and leverage the PC’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for an extra layer of protection. While Windows Hello primarily facilitates logins on Windows 11 devices, storing passkeys with a third-party password manager allows for access across other compatible operating systems.
While the final design is still under development, Microsoft has shared early draft visuals of the updated interface. They plan to reveal more details about the new passkey features at the Authenticate 2024 conference next week.
The new passkey features are expected to first be available to Windows Insiders during the “coming months.” While this means the broader public release is still a bit down the road, it’s exciting news for anyone who is frustrated with the current complexities of online logins and authentication. Passkeys represent a significant step towards a simpler and more secure online experience.
