- Advertisement -

Passkeys uses strong cryptographic techniques, the details of which you can skip in the next couple of lines since it’s too technical to keep an account safe.  This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to create and use a Passkey on an iPhone or other Apple devices.

How to Create a Passkey on an iPhone 

Using an iPhone to creating a passkey is relatively simple. In order to create one, You need to have an iPhone running iOS 16 or higher and also an by with a site or app that supports Passkeys.

Below are steps on how to create a pass key, that is if you meet those requirements above;

- Advertisement -

Note: The screenshots in this guide shows the steps in creating a Passkey for Best Buy. These particular procedure apply only to that website. For different sites, the specific steps will likely be different, but the concepts are always the same.

1. After logging into your account, head to the account settings section, search for security options.

2. The name of the menu that allows you create a Passkey will be different on each site. Which may be referred to as Passkey, or FIDO2 or FIDO credential, or CTAP, face or fingerprint sign in, or WebAuthn. All of these names refer to the same technology Apple uses to create Passkeys.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen to create the Passkey. Your Passkey will be saved in your iCloud Keychain just like a normal password so you can use it whenever you want to log into this website again.

When you create a Passkey, it is fix to the site you created it on just like a password is. So, for all site, app, or account you want to use a Passkey with, you will be required to create a separate Passkey.

How to Use a Passkey on an iPhone 

Once you’ve created a Passkey for a compatible site or app, you won’t need to use your password again. You can use the much more secure Passkey instead. Here’s how:

This steps shows the process for signing into Best Buy with a Passkey, but the basic principles apply to any site that supports Passkeys.

  • Head to the site for which you have created a Passkey. Click on the PassKey option on the sign-in screen (at Best Buy, the option iOS Sign In with WebAuthn, but remember that Passkey has many different names).
  • Click the Email Address field and put in the address prompted by your iPhone.
  • Click Continue in the pop-up that asks if you want to sign in using your Passkey.
  • Approve with Face ID or Touch ID and you’ll be signed into your account.
  • Unlike other uses of Face ID or Touch ID, like with Apple Pay, you cannot enter your device’s passcode. Passkeys only work with the biometric security provided by Face ID or Touch ID.

What Is an Apple Passkey and Why Is It Beneficial? 

Passkeys are special digital keys stored on a device that make use of biometric authentication for a secure sign-in experience. To explain in simple terms, Passkeys will let you to sign in on a website without typing in your password. Instead, you’ll be able to log in just using Face ID or Touch ID, making the process far more simpler and faster.

Passkeys depend on a long-standing security practice that make use of a pair of encryption keys. In this case, all Passkey you create has both a public key and a private key, which are paired with each other. When you set up a Passkey, the public and private keys are created. Your device sends the public key to the website you want to sign into and then uses the private key which never leaves your device, unlike a password to verify that you are really you.

Below are the benefits of using a Passkey instead of a password:

  • There’s No Password to Steal: Hacking to steal your password won’t work because Passkeys work with a key pair that can only be unlocked when together and with biometrics. That’s very secure!
  • Passkey Stays On Your Device: Passwords have to be stored on the computers of the company which you have an account with. Which means that the password can be stolen from you or the company. That’s two risks. With Passkey, the highly secure private key always stays on your device, so the risk is lower.
  • Face ID and Touch ID Are Highly Secure: Apple’s biometric-security systems are powerful and very difficult to fool, so the likelihood of them being hacked is low.
  • Syncs with iCloud Keychain Across Devices: Once you create a Passkey, it’s synced using iCloud Keychain to all of your Apple devices using the same Apple ID.
  • Compatible with Non-Apple Devices and Security Devices: You can use PassKeys on your Apple devices or non-Apple devices through a shared QR code even though they are stored on your Apple devices. Passkeys can also support security fobs used in several corporate environments.
- Advertisement -

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here