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To create a passkey for a website in Windows 11, open the site in a current browser, sign in, choose the site’s Create or Save passkey prompt, select where to store the credential, and complete the verification requested by Windows or the selected passkey provider. The website must support passkeys; Windows cannot add one to a site that has not enabled the feature.
You can usually save the passkey with Windows Hello on the PC, a synced credential manager, a phone or tablet, or a FIDO2 security key. The wording and available choices vary by site, browser, device, credential manager, and work or school policy.
What you need before creating a passkey
A passkey is a sign-in credential created for a specific website or service. Instead of typing a reusable password, you approve a sign-in with a device unlock method such as a PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition. The private part of the credential remains with the storage provider, while the website keeps a corresponding public key.
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- An account on a website that has passkey support enabled.
- Access to that account and at least one existing sign-in or recovery method.
- A current browser on the Windows PC.
- A Windows Hello method, compatible phone, synced credential manager, or FIDO2 security key, depending on the location you choose.
- Permission to create passkeys if the PC or account is managed by an employer or school.
Microsoft’s current support pages list the following compatibility information. These statements were accessed October 13, 2026, and do not mean every browser displays identical controls.
| Component | Microsoft’s stated support | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 and newer | Microsoft says Windows 11 is required for the latest passkey features. |
| Microsoft Edge | Version 109 or newer | Some credential-manager features have separate version requirements. |
| Google Chrome | Version 109 or newer | Use an up-to-date Windows installation and browser for the broadest set of choices. |
| Safari | Version 16 or newer | This is a general passkey compatibility statement; Safari is not the usual browser on a Windows 11 PC. |
| Microsoft Password Manager | Edge version 142 or newer | Availability is rolling out and requires a personal profile. |
For background on passkeys, device support, and browser requirements, see Microsoft’s explanation of passkeys and why they matter.
How do I create a passkey for a website in Windows 11?
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Open the site and sign in
Launch a supported, up-to-date browser on the Windows 11 PC. Go to the website, select its normal sign-in control, and authenticate to the account for which you want the passkey. A passkey is tied to the account and site, so make sure you are using the intended account before accepting the save prompt.
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Accept the website’s passkey prompt
After sign-in, the site may show a message such as Create a passkey, Save passkey, Continue, or Create. Select Continue or Create to use the location suggested by the site and browser.
Some sites offer a passkey option in account security settings instead of immediately after sign-in. Look for labels such as Passkeys, Security keys, or Sign-in methods, then choose the command to add a passkey.
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Review alternate save locations when needed
If you do not want the suggested location, select Change, Save another way, or the equivalent command. The exact label depends on the site and browser. The next dialog lists only the providers available in your current configuration, so a missing option does not necessarily indicate a fault.
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Select where the passkey will live
Choose Windows Hello on this PC, a synced credential manager, a phone or tablet, or a physical security key when that option is offered. The trade-offs are explained below. A FIDO2 security key is optional; it is not required when Windows Hello or another supported provider is available.
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Complete the provider’s verification
Finish the instructions shown by the selected provider. Windows Hello may ask for your Windows PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition. A phone flow may display a QR code to scan and can require Bluetooth proximity verification. A security key can require inserting or tapping the key and approving its prompt.
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Confirm that the website saved it
When the provider finishes, return to the website’s account or security page and check for the new passkey entry if the site displays one. Do not close the browser while a security-key, phone, or Windows Hello prompt is still processing. A completed provider dialog alone is not a substitute for the website’s confirmation that the credential was registered.
Microsoft describes this general process in Create and save a passkey. Individual websites can place the command in different menus and use different wording.
Where should you save the passkey?
The best location depends on how many devices you use and how you plan to recover access if one device or account is lost. There is no single universally best choice. Compare portability, dependence on a particular device or provider, and the recovery method you can actually use.
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|---|---|---|
| Windows Hello on this PC | The passkey is stored locally on the Windows device and unlocked with Windows Hello. | It is device-bound and does not sync automatically to other devices. Keep another passkey or recovery method in case the PC is lost, reset, or unavailable. |
| Synced credential manager | A supported password or passkey manager stores the credential through its cloud account and makes it available on compatible devices. | Useful for cross-device access, but availability and recovery depend on the manager account and its supported platforms. Microsoft Password Manager is rolling out in Edge 142 or newer with a personal profile. |
| Phone or tablet | The browser can show a QR code for the phone or tablet to scan; Bluetooth pairing may be requested for verification. | Convenient when the mobile device is with you. Protect the phone’s unlock method and maintain another recovery route if it is lost. |
| FIDO2 physical security key | A compatible hardware key holds the passkey and may require insertion, tapping, or a touch confirmation. | It is independent of the PC’s local storage, but losing the key requires a spare key or another account recovery method. |
Windows Hello on the current PC
Selecting Windows Hello creates a local, device-bound passkey. The credential is available on that PC after you unlock it with the configured Windows Hello method. It does not follow you automatically to a different Windows computer, so do not treat a local passkey as your only way back into an important account.
This option is practical when you use one trusted PC and already have a working PIN, fingerprint reader, or face-recognition camera. Before deleting the account’s password or other recovery method, verify that you have another way to sign in from outside that PC.
A synced credential manager
A synced manager can make a passkey available on other devices through the manager’s account. The browser may list Microsoft Password Manager or another compatible manager as a save destination. The manager must support passkeys on each device where you expect to use them, and its own account recovery process becomes important.
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Microsoft says its Password Manager availability is rolling out in Edge version 142 or newer when using a personal profile. A work or school profile, an older Edge version, or a different browser may not show that choice even when Windows itself is current.
A phone or tablet
Choose the phone or tablet option when you want the mobile device to hold the credential or act as the nearby authenticator. The Windows browser may display a QR code. Scan it with the compatible phone or authenticator, follow the on-screen instructions, and allow Bluetooth if the flow requests a nearby-device check.
Keep the phone charged and unlocked during setup. If the QR code expires, restart the save flow and scan the newly displayed code rather than reusing an old screenshot.
A physical security key
A FIDO2 security key is a hardware save location offered by some website and browser combinations. It is optional, not a prerequisite for Windows 11 passkeys. When selected, follow the browser’s instructions to connect the key and approve the registration.
Because a key can be misplaced or damaged, register a second sign-in method or spare key before relying on it as the only credential. Do not buy a specific brand solely because a website lists the FIDO2 category; compatibility is determined by the site, browser, and key’s supported standards.
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Windows can show and manage passkeys stored locally on the PC. Open Settings > Accounts > Passkeys. The list contains the local entries that Windows can manage; passkeys held by a phone, physical key, or separate synced manager may instead be managed through that provider or the website’s security page.
For additional controls, open Settings > Accounts > Passkeys > Advanced options. The exact controls can be restricted on an organization-managed PC. Microsoft’s management instructions are in Manage your saved passkeys.
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Delete a local passkey safely
In Settings > Accounts > Passkeys, select the entry you want to remove and follow the delete command. Deleting the Windows entry does not necessarily remove a copy held by a synced manager, phone, security key, or the website’s own account record. If the goal is to prevent future sign-in, review the passkey list on the website and in the relevant provider as well.
Before deleting an entry, confirm that another passkey, password, recovery code, or account-recovery route works. Removing the only usable credential can leave you locked out.
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Why don’t I see an option to create a passkey?
The website has not enabled passkeys
The most direct explanation is that the site does not support passkey registration for your account or region. Microsoft states: “If you’re not prompted to create or save a passkey when signing in, the website, service or app doesn’t support it at the moment.” Read the statement in context on Microsoft’s passkey creation support page. A Windows setting cannot force an unsupported website to display the feature.
The site hides registration in account security settings
Some services do not show a prompt immediately after sign-in. Open the account’s security, authentication, or sign-in-method settings and look for an add-passkey command. If no such control exists, check the site’s own help documentation or contact its support team; do not assume that a missing browser dialog means Windows is malfunctioning.
The browser or Windows installation is outdated
Install available Windows and browser updates, close and reopen the browser, and try the registration flow again. Microsoft lists newer passkey features for Windows 11 and lists Edge 109 or newer and Chrome 109 or newer among supported browser versions. The Microsoft Password Manager choice specifically requires Edge 142 or newer with a personal profile and may still be rolling out.
An organization has limited the choices
On a work or school account or managed PC, an administrator can limit passkey options. The site may support passkeys while your organization blocks Windows Hello, external keys, phone registration, or a particular manager. Contact the IT administrator if the option is missing only on the managed account or device. Do not attempt to bypass a policy by changing security settings without authorization.
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The prompt disappears or times out
Passkey registration involves the website, browser, and selected provider communicating within a limited time. Start again from the website’s security page, keep the provider device nearby, and complete each prompt before it expires. If a QR code or security-key dialog times out, generate a new registration prompt rather than continuing with the old one.
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The site reports a connectivity problem
Check that the Windows PC and any phone or tablet have a working connection. If a VPN, captive portal, or unstable Wi-Fi is interrupting the flow, reconnect before trying again. Leave the website open and repeat the save process after connectivity is restored.
The wrong account is selected
Cancel the prompt, sign out if necessary, and return to the intended account. Verify the account identifier shown by the website and provider before approving. A passkey registered while another account is active will not authenticate the account you meant to protect.
A provider choice is missing
Update Windows and the browser, then check whether the device is managed. Not every combination of site, browser, Windows edition, profile type, and credential manager exposes every save location. If the option remains absent, use another location the site offers or ask the organization administrator whether policy is restricting it.
You replaced or lost the Windows PC
On the replacement device, sign in with another available method and create a new passkey before removing the old one. A synced manager may make an existing passkey available after you sign in to that manager, while a Windows Hello passkey stored only on the old PC will not transfer automatically. Review the website’s registered passkeys and remove credentials tied to devices you no longer control.
You are about to remove the only working credential
Stop and establish a replacement first. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance recommends setting up a new passkey or recovery method before deleting an old credential. Confirm the replacement by signing out and completing a test sign-in, if the website permits it, then remove the obsolete entry from Windows, the provider, and the website as appropriate. See Microsoft’s passkey sign-in troubleshooting guidance for additional failure cases.
What happens when you sign in with the new passkey?
On a later visit, choose the website’s passkey or passwordless sign-in option when it is offered. The browser contacts the provider where you saved the credential, and you approve the request with Windows Hello, the phone, the synced manager, or the security key. The website verifies the matching credential without receiving the private key.
The exact sign-in screen can differ from the registration screen. If the passkey is not listed, check that you are using the same browser profile and provider used during setup, that the phone or key is available, and that the website account is correct. A locally stored Windows Hello credential will not appear on another PC simply because you signed in to the same Microsoft account.
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Quick Recap
A safe passkey setup checklist
- Confirm the website supports passkey creation for your account.
- Update Windows and use a supported browser version.
- Sign in to the intended website account before accepting the prompt.
- Read the save-location dialog and use Change or Save another way if necessary.
- Keep the phone, security key, or Windows Hello method ready until registration completes.
- Record which provider holds the credential and how you will recover that provider.
- Create a second passkey or retain another recovery method for an important account.
- Check Settings > Accounts > Passkeys for locally stored Windows credentials.
- When replacing a device, create and test the replacement passkey before deleting the old one.
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