Updated 7/10/25 – added websites that support passkeys:
If you’re tired of remembering complex passwords or worrying about phishing attacks, passkeys offer a simpler, safer alternative. Major platforms like Google, Microsoft, Apple and Yahoo now support passkeys, and they’re designed to replace passwords entirely. In this guide, we’ll explain what passkeys are, how to set them up, and how you can use them across multiple devices—even for the same account.
What websites support Passkeys?
Major email providers Google, Microsoft and Yahoo now support passkeys. However, banks and brokerages – likely where most of your money is kept – have been slow to adopt passkeys. Here’s a non-comprehensive list of websites that support passkeys: passkeys.directory
How to Set Up a Passkey
- Go to the account’s security settings — For example, in your Google Account, look for Security > Passkeys.
- Click “Create a passkey” — The website will guide you through setup.
- Choose where to store the passkey — Your device will usually suggest saving it to your platform’s password manager (Google Password Manager, Apple’s iCloud Passwords & Keychain or Windows Hello).
- Verify yourself — Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint, or PIN to finish creating the passkey.
💡 Tip: You don’t have to create the passkey on just one device—you can (and should) create a passkey for the same account on multiple devices!
How to Use a Passkey
When you sign in to a website or app:
- Instead of typing a password, choose the option to use a passkey.
- You’ll approve the login using Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint, or your PIN.
- The site verifies your identity with your device’s private key.
That’s it—no password to remember or type!
Does a passkey need to be used every time you use a website or app?
No. You’ll typically only be prompted to use a passkey in these situations:
- First time logging in on a new device or browser.
- After clearing cookies or signing out.
- After a long period of inactivity or if the session expires.
- To authorize a sensitive action, like changing account settings.
✅ When You Don’t Need to Re-Use the Passkey
- Many sites use persistent login sessions or tokens, meaning you stay logged in without having to re-authenticate each time.
- Apps may remember your authenticated session until you explicitly log out or uninstall.
Using Passkeys Across Multiple Devices
Passkeys are designed to sync securely between your devices:
- Apple devices: Your passkeys sync through iCloud Passwords & Keychain across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
- Google devices: They sync via Google Password Manager across Chrome and Android.
- Windows devices: You can use Windows Hello with synced accounts, and passkeys stored in compatible password managers.
This means you can create a passkey on your phone and use it on your laptop (as long as both devices are linked to your account and syncing).
✅ You can also create separate passkeys for the same account on each of your devices. This is useful if you want a fallback in case you lose a device.
Can I Still Use a Password?
If you’ve set up a passkey, most services still let you sign in with your password as a backup—at least for now. But the goal is to make passwords unnecessary. The more you use passkeys, the less you’ll need to rely on passwords (or worry about them being stolen).
Are Passwords Gone For Good?
Passwords are not gone for good—yet—but they are on their way out, slowly. Here’s the current landscape:
✅ Passkeys are gaining traction fast
- Tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft now support passkeys across their ecosystems.
- Major platforms (like Amazon, PayPal, and eBay) are beginning to offer passkey login options.
- Passkeys are phishing-resistant, easier to use, and can sync across devices using platforms like iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager.
❌ But passwords aren’t dead
- Most websites still rely on passwords as the default or fallback login method.
- Passkey adoption is uneven—many banks, retailers, and niche services haven’t implemented them yet.
- Passwords are often still required for account recovery, legacy systems, or initial passkey setup.
🔁 We’re in a transition period
- Think of this like when credit cards began using chips instead of magnetic stripes. Both worked for a while, but one was clearly the future.
- Right now, most users are in a hybrid mode: using both passwords and passkeys depending on the service.
What needs to happen for passwords to truly die off?
- Widespread support: More services need to offer passkey login.
- User education: People need to trust and understand how to use passkeys.
- Fallbacks without passwords: Services need secure alternatives for account recovery that don’t fall back to traditional passwords.
Bottom line and Final Thoughts:
Passwords aren’t gone yet—but they’re being replaced. Passkeys are a major step forward in online security and convenience. They:
- Can’t be phished (you’ll never type them in a fake website).
- Are stronger than passwords.
- Sync securely across your devices.
- Let you create multiple passkeys for the same account, on different devices.
If you’re ready to simplify your online life and improve security, setting up passkeys is a smart move. Just make sure you’ve turned on device backups (like iCloud Passwords & Keychain or Google account sync), so you don’t lose access if a device is lost or replaced. Contact Computer Techs if you’d like help setting up passkeys to help secure your most important accounts.