How Do Passkeys Work? The Future of Passwordless Authentication Explained

Passwords have long been the weakest link in digital security. They’re often forgotten, reused, or stolen in breaches. That’s why the tech world is buzzing about passkeys, a new, user friendly way to sign in without ever needing to remember a password. But how do passkeys work and what makes them so secure?

What Are Passkeys?

Passkeys are digital credentials that let you log in to websites and apps without typing a password. Based on open standards like WebAuthn and FIDO2, passkeys use public key cryptography to provide strong, phishing resistant authentication.

How Do Passkeys Work?

Here’s a simplified look at the process:

Account Registration:
- When you sign up for a service, your device generates a unique pair of cryptographic keys: a public key (shared with the service) and a private key (stored securely on your device).
Sign-In:
- To log in, you confirm your identity on your device (with a fingerprint, face scan, PIN, etc.).
- The website sends a challenge that only your private key can solve. Your device uses the private key to prove it’s really you without ever sharing the key itself.
No Passwords Exchanged:
- The website verifies the response with your public key. If it checks out, you’re logged in!

Why Are Passkeys More Secure Than Passwords?

Phishing Resistant: There’s nothing to type or share hackers can’t trick you into revealing your passkey.
Unique to Each Service: Even if one website is compromised, your other accounts remain safe.
Stored on Your Device: The private key never leaves your device, making remote theft nearly impossible.
Easy to Use: No more remembering or resetting complex passwords.

How Are Passkeys Managed?

Most modern devices and password managers (like Bitwarden, Google Password Manager, and Apple Keychain) can create, store, and sync passkeys across devices. If you get a new phone or computer, you can securely transfer your passkeys.

Where Can You Use Passkeys?

Major platforms including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and many top websites now support passkeys. Adoption is growing, and more services are rolling out support every month.

Are Passkeys the End of Passwords?

We’re not quite there yet, but the industry is moving rapidly toward a passwordless future. Until then, many services will let you use passkeys alongside traditional passwords or other sign in methods.