Windows 11 Users Just Got A More Convenient Way To Store Passkeys - Here's How It Works

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• A caller Windows API allows third-party apps to return complete passkey management.
• 1Password is nan first password head to utilize this feature.
• To alteration this option, you request to instal nan latest merchandise of 1Password.

No uncertainty astir it: The exertion down passkeys is confusing. It involves cryptographic keys and authenticators and standards pinch arcane names for illustration 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 nan information use from passkeys by pursuing 1 elemental rule: If a website aliases app offers you nan chance to create a passkey, conscionable opportunity yes. Use your look aliases your fingerprint aliases a PIN to beryllium your identity, and you're bully to go. By pursuing that rule, I've amassed a divers postulation of 30 aliases truthful passkeys that importantly trim nan clash 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, nan astir confusing portion is deciding wherever to prevention nan passkey. Because Windows Hello is group up connected my PC, it wants to negociate that passkey, and I person to push it speech truthful that I tin usage nan 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 advantage of a new autochthonal passkeys plugin API to merge its credential guidance pinch Windows 11. After enabling nan integration, 1Password takes complete from Windows arsenic credential manager; you tin create passkeys connected immoderate device, past sync and negociate them pinch 1Password, utilizing Windows Hello arsenic nan authentication mechanism.

The caller 1Password onboarding process handles nan specifications of integrating passkeys pinch Windows.

Screenshot by 1Password

How it works

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

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

Also: How passkeys work: The complete guideline to your inevitable passwordless future

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

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

Use this action successful Windows 11 Settings to alteration nan system-level passkey manager.

Microsoft

After making that change, you'll spot a caller punctual erstwhile you create a passkey. Windows will usage your preferred credential head alternatively of offering to prevention nan passkey successful Windows. Windows Hello handles nan specifications of authenticating you to complete nan process.

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

Microsoft

What's next?

1Password is nan first third-party supplier to return advantage of this integration, but different password head apps should travel intimately behind. If you usage Bitwarden aliases Dashlane, cheque for announcements connected erstwhile those apps will adhd passkey plugin support. Windows is adding its ain passkey sync mechanism arsenic well, utilizing nan Microsoft Password Manager successful Edge, truthful you'll person that arsenic an action 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 switch your existing credentials. Instead, they activity arsenic a much convenient and unafraid replacement to entering a username and password. A fistful of sites and services presently connection afloat passwordless options -- you tin go wholly passwordless pinch a Microsoft account, for example. But those options are usually for precocious users, and they require other attraction to guarantee you person backup betterment methods and don't accidentally fastener yourself retired of nan relationship pinch nary measurement backmost in.

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