Windows 11 users just got a more convenient way to store passkeys - here's how it works

7 hours ago 3
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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • A caller Windows API allows third-party apps to instrumentality implicit passkey management.
  • 1Password is the archetypal password manager to utilize this feature.
  • To alteration this option, you request to instal the latest merchandise of 1Password.

No uncertainty astir it: The exertion down passkeys is confusing. It involves cryptographic keys and authenticators and standards with arcane names similar FIDO2 and WebAuthn. It's nary wonderment your eyes glaze over.

But here's a small secret: You don't need to cognize each those details. You tin reap the information payment from passkeys by pursuing 1 elemental rule: If a website oregon app offers you the accidental to make a passkey, conscionable accidental yes. Use your look oregon your fingerprint oregon a PIN to beryllium your identity, and you're bully to go. By pursuing that rule, I've amassed a divers postulation of 30 oregon truthful passkeys that importantly trim the friction of signing into websites and online services. 

Passkeys made simpler

The acquisition isn't dormant elemental yet, but it's usually elemental enough. In fact, the astir confusing portion is deciding wherever to prevention the passkey. Because Windows Hello is acceptable up connected my PC, it wants to negociate that passkey, and I person to propulsion it speech truthful that I tin usage the passkey saved successful my preferred password manager, 1Password.

Also: How Microsoft yet makes bully connected its syncable passkey committedness - and what's coming next

That's each astir to get easier, arsenic 1Password takes vantage of a new autochthonal passkeys plugin API to integrate its credential absorption with Windows 11. After enabling the integration, 1Password takes implicit from Windows arsenic credential manager; you tin make passkeys connected immoderate device, past sync and negociate them with 1Password, utilizing Windows Hello arsenic the authentication mechanism.

1password-passkeys-on-windows

The caller 1Password onboarding process handles the details of integrating passkeys with Windows.

Screenshot by 1Password

How it works

This diagnostic was available for investigating past summer, but it required a Windows Insider preview merchandise from the Dev channel, arsenic good arsenic a beta merchandise of the 1Password app for Windows.

Now, anyone moving the latest mentation of Windows 11 and the newly released MSIX mentation of the 1Password app tin alteration system-level passkey integration. (MSIX is simply a packaging format for Windows that uses containerization to support apps isolated from the remainder of the system. MSIX apps tin work the registry and record system, but they constitute their ain files and registry entries to a virtualized location, making it casual to cleanable up aft resetting oregon uninstalling the app.)

Also: How passkeys work: The implicit usher to your inevitable passwordless future

With those prerequisites retired of the way, 1Password should connection to alteration the passkey diagnostic successful your desktop app. You tin besides manually alteration this diagnostic by going to Settings > Autofill successful the 1Password app and selecting the "Show passkey suggestions" setting.

The last measurement is to acceptable 1Password arsenic the strategy authenticator successful Windows. That enactment is disposable successful Settings > Accounts > Passkeys > Advanced options, wherever you tin take immoderate third-party app that supports the passkey plugin API. When one enabled the Autofill enactment successful the 1Password app, it automatically opened settings to the close leafage successful Windows Settings, and each I had to bash was flip the 1Password toggle to the On position. 

passkey-settings-windows11-1password

Use this enactment successful Windows 11 Settings to alteration the system-level passkey manager.

Microsoft

After making that change, you'll spot a caller punctual erstwhile you make a passkey. Windows volition usage your preferred credential manager alternatively of offering to prevention the passkey successful Windows. Windows Hello handles the details of authenticating you to implicit the process.

save-passkey-to-1password

With a third-party app acceptable arsenic the passkey manager, you'll spot this dialog alternatively of the Windows version.

Microsoft

What's next?

1Password is the archetypal third-party supplier to instrumentality vantage of this integration, but different password manager apps should travel intimately behind. If you usage Bitwarden oregon Dashlane, cheque for announcements connected erstwhile those apps volition adhd passkey plugin support. Windows is adding its ain passkey sync mechanism arsenic well, utilizing the Microsoft Password Manager successful Edge, truthful you'll person that arsenic an enactment if you'd alternatively not usage a third-party tool. 

Also: The champion password managers: Expert tested

And here's a important note: As presently implemented, passkeys don't automatically regenerate your existing credentials. Instead, they enactment arsenic a much convenient and unafraid alternate to entering a username and password. A fistful of sites and services presently connection afloat passwordless options -- you tin go wholly passwordless with a Microsoft account, for example. But those options are usually for precocious users, and they necessitate other attraction to guarantee you person backup betterment methods and don't accidentally fastener yourself retired of the relationship with nary mode backmost in.

I've installed the caller 1Password app and enabled the integration connected my Surface Pro laptop. The process was refreshingly simple; if you're a 1Password user, I highly urge it.

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