Passwords have been a necessary evil for decades. We forget them, reuse them, and too often, hackers steal them. But what if there were a way to log in that’s faster, easier, and much more secure? Enter passkeys. Big names like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are embracing them, and it’s time you understood why.
What Are Passkeys?
A passkey is a new type of login credential that replaces passwords with something far more secure and user-friendly. Instead of relying on a string of characters you have to remember (and hackers can guess), passkeys use cryptographic key pairs, one public and one private.
The public key is stored on the website or app you’re logging into.
The private key lives securely on your device, like your phone or laptop, and is unlocked with biometrics (like Face ID or a fingerprint) or a PIN.
Because the private key never leaves your device, no one else can access it, even if a hacker gains access to the website’s database.
Why Are Passkeys Better Than Passwords?
Let’s break it down:
Phishing-resistant: Passkeys can’t be stolen through fake login pages.
Unique and non-reusable: Every account has its own passkey.
Stored securely: The private key never touches the internet.
Faster logins: Authenticate in seconds using your face, fingerprint, or device PIN.
No more password resets: Forget forgetting passwords!
How Do Passkeys Work?
Here’s what happens when you sign up or log in using a passkey:
- 1. You visit a website that supports passkeys and choose to sign in with a passkey.
2. Your device creates a key pair: one public, one private.
3. The public key is sent to the website and stored with your account.
4. When logging in, the site sends a challenge to your device.
5. You unlock your device using Face ID, fingerprint, or PIN.
6. Your device signs the challenge with the private key (which never leaves your device).
7. The site verifies the signature using the public key and logs you in.
All this happens in the background, smooth, secure, and fast.
Who’s Using Passkeys Already?
You may already be using passkeys and not even know it. Platforms that support passkeys include:
Apple (iCloud, Safari, Apple ID)
Google (Gmail, Android)
Microsoft (Windows Hello, Microsoft Authenticator)
Amazon, PayPal, eBay, and LinkedIn
And more joining every day.
You can even visit passkeys.directory to see which websites and apps support passkey login.
Can Passkeys Sync Across Devices?
Yes. One of the most powerful features of passkeys is that they can sync across your devices, just like photos or text messages:
On Apple devices, passkeys sync via iCloud Keychain.
On Android, they sync via your Google account.
On Windows, passkey support is growing with Microsoft Edge and Windows Hello.
So if you register a passkey on your iPhone, you can also use it on your Mac or iPad.
Are There Any Downsides?
While passkeys are a huge step forward, there are still a few things to consider:
Device-dependent: If you lose all your devices and don’t have backup or syncing set up, recovery can be tricky.
Limited support: Not every website or app supports passkeys, yet.
User education: Many people don’t know what passkeys are or how to use them.
But momentum is building fast. Tech companies, banks, and governments are all moving in the same direction: passwordless.
The Bottom Line
Passkeys aren’t just a nice idea, they’re the next evolution in online security. They’re simpler, safer, and designed to protect your accounts from the most common threats like phishing, password leaks, and credential stuffing.
You don’t need to be a tech expert to benefit. If you use Face ID or a fingerprint to unlock your phone, you're already halfway there.
Ready to Ditch Passwords?
Start by enabling passkeys on the platforms you already use, Apple, Google, or Microsoft. Check your account security settings for “Passkey” options. And if your business isn’t thinking about passkey support yet, now’s the time to get ahead of the curve.
Want help preparing your organization for a passwordless future? Contact RCS Professional Services, we’ll walk you through it.