Passkeys let you sign in without typing a password: your device or credential provider uses a cryptographic credential linked to the specific account and website or app. They can make phishing harder and sign-in simpler, but they do not mean passwords have disappeared. Before you rely on one, check where it is stored and how you will recover access if you lose the device that holds it.
What is a passkey?
A passkey is a FIDO credential based on a cryptographic key pair, registered to an account for a particular website or app. Instead of sending a reusable password, your device or credential provider uses the private part of that credential to prove your identity; the service keeps public-key information to verify the sign-in. The browser or operating system helps select the credential for the site you are visiting. FIDO Alliance explains passkeys.
To approve a sign-in, you unlock your device using a supported method such as a fingerprint, face recognition, PIN, pattern, or another screen-lock method. A biometric is used locally to unlock the credential; it is not sent to the website as a password. Google’s passkey guidance describes the registration and sign-in flow.
Are passkeys safer than passwords?
Passkeys are designed to resist phishing. Because a credential is associated with the registered site or app identity, a fake domain should not be able to use it as if it were the real service. That reduces the need to spot a convincing imitation sign-in page or to avoid reusing a password.
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
They do not eliminate every account risk. A compromised device, weak account recovery, a service’s legacy password sign-in, or another fallback method may still provide an attacker with a route into an account. Treat passkeys as a stronger sign-in option, not a guarantee that an account cannot be compromised.
Where are passkeys stored?
The answer depends on the kind of passkey and the provider that manages it. FIDO distinguishes two broad models:
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
| Passkey type | How it works | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Synced | An encrypted credential is synchronized by a credential provider to the user’s other devices. | Convenient across supported devices, but the devices and platforms supported depend on the provider. |
| Device-bound | The credential stays tied to a particular device or authenticator. | Useful when policy calls for a credential tied to one authenticator; plan a backup or recovery route if that device is lost. |
For example, Google says Google Password Manager can sync passkeys, and Android 14 or later supports compatible third-party credential providers. Exact availability depends on the device, operating system, provider, and service. Google’s guidance also describes signing in to a laptop with a nearby phone in supported flows, even if the passkey is not synced to the laptop.
What happens if you lose your phone?
There is no single recovery method that works for every passkey. A synced passkey may be available on another supported device through the same credential provider. A device-bound passkey may require another registered authenticator or the account’s recovery process. Some services also retain password or other sign-in options.
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Before making a passkey your only practical way to sign in, check:
- Which devices and operating systems your credential provider supports, including whether it works across the platforms and browsers you use.
- Whether the credential is synced or device-bound, and whether you have a backup device or authenticator.
- How the account lets you recover access if your phone or authenticator is lost.
- Whether a nearby phone can approve sign-in on another device for that service.
- Which fallback sign-in methods remain enabled and how well they are protected.
Set up an available backup before you need one. Do not assume that a passkey will automatically transfer to every new phone, password manager, browser, or operating system.
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
How do I start using passkeys?
- Choose an account you can recover. Check its security or sign-in settings for a passkey option, and review the account’s recovery methods before changing how you sign in.
- Create the passkey. Follow the service’s prompts. Your browser or operating system will ask which supported device or credential provider should store it, then request a local unlock method.
- Confirm where it is saved. Check the selected provider’s device and platform coverage. If you use more than one operating system or browser, verify that your intended sign-in route works across them.
- Test sign-in and recovery. Sign out and try the passkey on the device you plan to use. If you expect to sign in from another device, test the supported nearby-phone flow or another backup before relying on it.
Exact labels and steps vary by service and device; Google’s passkey setup and sign-in guidance explains its flow.
Do I need a security key?
Most people can begin with a phone or computer they already own. A hardware security key is an optional physical authenticator for people who specifically want a device-bound credential or whose organization requires one. The account, device, and key must all support the relevant sign-in method. Check compatibility before buying; no particular key model is established here.
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- FIDO2 & Passkey Ready: Business-ready and FIDO2 L1 certified. This key is supported by major management suites and is ideal for both individual and enterprise deployment. Works seamlessly with Gmail, Facebook, GitHub, Dropbox, Coinbase, and more.
- Universal Connectivity (USB-A ): Features a built-in USB-A connector—simply unfold the key and plug it into your compatible PC or laptop for seamless authentication on the go.
- Dedicated Manager App: Use the Thetis Manager App for the initial hardware PIN setup. Setting the PIN on the device first ensures a smooth registration process. Once the PIN is configured, you can begin registering the key across your favorite FIDO2-compatible online services.
- Ultra-Durable & Portable: Featuring a rotating metal cover, this key is water, crush, and tamper-resistant. It fits easily on a keychain and requires no batteries or network connectivity.
- Check FIDO2 compatibility before purchase - Known limitations: ID Austria is not supported (requires FIDO2 Level 2). Windows Hello login only works with Windows Enterprise editions that support Entra ID, and NFC is NOT supported.
Have passkeys replaced passwords?
No. Adoption is growing, but passwords and other sign-in methods remain in use. In its 2026 global research, the FIDO Alliance estimated that five billion passkeys were in active use worldwide. Its consumer survey covered 11,000 adults who regularly log in to online services across ten countries; 90% said they were familiar with passkeys and 75% said they had enabled one on at least some accounts. These are survey findings, not a census of all internet users. FIDO Alliance, The State of Passkeys 2026.
The same report found that nearly half of surveyed consumers would abandon a sign-in or purchase if they could not remember a password. It also reported that one-third had experienced an account compromise or breach notification in the previous year. Those results describe the surveyed consumers and the stated timeframe; they do not predict an individual’s experience.
For organizations, 68% of the report’s surveyed decision-makers said their organization was deploying, piloting, or rolling out passkeys for employee authentication. Yet among organizations that had deployed passkeys, 57% still relied on phishable authentication methods for primary day-to-day sign-in. Deployment therefore does not mean passwords or other phishable options have been removed. FIDO Alliance’s 2026 report.
What changes for a workplace rollout?
For an individual, the main choices are which account to enroll, where to store the passkey, and how to recover access. An organization must also decide which credential types and devices are allowed, how staff will enroll, what support and training they need, and what fallback process applies when a device is unavailable.
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FIDO’s February 2025 study of U.S. and U.K. enterprise deployments described organizations using a mix of synced and device-bound passkeys. It identified complexity, cost, and lack of implementation clarity among reasons some organizations had not begun deployment. Those findings are a dated regional snapshot, not a current global measure. FIDO Alliance, The State of Passkey Deployment in the Enterprise.
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