Traditional passwords have been causing problems for years.They're hard to remember, they're reused in a thousand places, and massive leaks happen all the time (see Why short passwords get brokenIn this context, Microsoft, Google, Apple, and other giants have set themselves a very clear goal: get rid of passwords and replace them with a much more convenient and secure system, passkeys or access keys.
In Windows, passkeys fit like a glove thanks to Windows Hello and the FIDO standardThese allow you to log in to websites and applications using your face, fingerprint, or PIN, without typing a single complicated password. Let's take a closer look at exactly what they are, how they work in Windows, what you need to use them, and why they represent a huge leap forward in security compared to traditional passwords.
What are passkeys and why is everyone talking about them?
A passkey or access key is, in short, a passwordless login methodInstead of remembering a string of letters, numbers, and symbols, your identity is verified with a cryptographic key which is securely stored on your device (PC, mobile, tablet, etc.).
These keys are stored as secrets protected by encryption They are unlocked using the device's own security mechanism: biometrics (fingerprint, facial recognition), a PIN, or a pattern. The idea is that the user doesn't have to type anything or memorize any data: they simply confirm their identity with something very natural, like looking at the camera or placing their finger on the reader.
Passkeys are based on asymmetric cryptographyThat is, in a pair of keys: one public and one private. The public key is registered with the service (web or app), and the private key remains on your device, never leaving it. Thanks to this design, attackers cannot steal your "password" in a database breach because the server never stores anything that can be reused to impersonate you (see Check if your credentials have been leaked).
Companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft They have been working together for some time under the umbrella of the FIDO Alliance and the W3C to promote this standard. Their goal is to reduce the world's reliance on passwords and offer a more robust yet simpler login process, something rarely achieved in security.
How passkeys work at a technical level
The passkeys rely on the FIDO protocolsFIDO, a set of industry standards that use public-key cryptography to securely authenticate users. Microsoft is a founding member of the FIDO Alliance and has natively integrated these technologies into its products. Windows Hello as a platform authenticator.
When you sign up to a service that supports passkeys, your Windows device generates a new pair of keys:
- private keyIt is securely stored on the device (PC, laptop, tablet, etc.). It is never sent over the internet or leaves the device.
- Public key: it is sent to the service (web or app) and is associated with your account.
When logging in, the service sends a cryptographic challenge to the device. To pass it, the device must prove it possesses the correct private key by signing that challenge. But that private key can only be used after the user unlocks it with the factor configured in Windows Hello: fingerprint, face, or PIN.
This entire authentication process is performed on the user's own deviceNot on a remote server. The server only sees the signature and public key it already has registered, and verifies that they match. If the check is successful, it lets you through without requiring you to type any password.
Furthermore, FIDO protocols are designed to protect privacyThey prevent different services from cross-referencing data to track users, since each website or application obtains its own unique public key. Any biometric data used to unlock the passkey (such as a fingerprint or facial recognition) never leaves the deviceIt stays in the secure chip or security module of the device and does not travel over the network.
Passkeys vs. passwords: key differences
Passwords have several known problems: they are difficult to remember, they are repeated in too many places and are an easy target for phishing, keyloggers, and data breaches. Microsoft acknowledges that it blocks thousands of password attacks per second, a huge figure that proves this model is exhausted.
Passkeys are designed precisely to eliminate those weaknesses. Unlike passwords:
- You don't have to memorize themThe system creates and manages them for you, automatically.
- They cannot be written or sharedThere is no text that you can copy and paste, which reduces errors and bad habits.
- They are unique in serviceEach website or app receives a unique public key, impossible to reuse elsewhere.
- The server only stores the public key.so a data breach doesn't expose something reusable to log in on your behalf.
In terms of security, a passkey is inherently phishing resistantIf an attacker creates a fake page mimicking a legitimate service, the browser or operating system will not deliver the passkey to that fake domain, because the key is cryptographically "tied" to the real site where it was created.
In addition, passkeys provide cross-device and cross-platform authenticationThis means you can use a passkey created on one device (for example, your mobile) to log in to another (for example, your Windows PC), provided the ecosystem supports it and the technical conditions are met, such as a Bluetooth connection when using external authenticators.
How passkeys work in Windows with Windows Hello
In the Microsoft ecosystem, passkeys are primarily integrated through Windows HelloWindows Hello, which acts as a platform authenticator in Windows 10 and Windows 11, allows you to log in using your biometrics (face, fingerprint) or a device PIN instead of a traditional password.
When you create a passkey on a compatible site or application from a Windows computer, the system saves it as secret associated with your Windows Hello profileFrom that moment on, when you want to access that service again, simply unlock the device using the usual methods: fingerprint, PIN, or facial recognition.
There is also the option of use an auxiliary device, such as a phone or tablet, to authenticate yourself on Windows. In that case, the mobile device acts as a FIDO2 authenticator and, via Bluetooth and the internet, is responsible for signing the authentication challenge when you authorize it, without the private key ever leaving that device.
The user experience is designed to be very natural: if a website or app supports passkeys, you'll see that the browser or system offers you the option. create a passkey automatically When you register or log in for the first time. From then on, when you return to the page, Windows Hello will appear so you can verify your identity without typing passwords.
Windows licenses and editions that support passkeys
Not all versions of Windows handle passkeys in the same way, so it's important to be clear about this. where they are officially admittedMicrosoft indicates that access keys are supported in these editions:
- Windows pro
- Windows Enterprise
- Windows Pro Education / SE
- Windows Education
As for specific license rights for passkeysThese licenses are granted through the following Microsoft commercial and educational licenses:
- Windows Pro / Pro Education / SE
- Windows Enterprise E3
- Windows Enterprise E5
- Windows Education A3
- Windows Education A5
If you're in an organization, the IT department usually already has detailed licensing information according to the agreements you have signed with Microsoft. For large-scale professional or educational use, it is important to review the official Windows licensing documentation to ensure you have all the necessary rights to deploy passkeys on a corporate basis.
Privacy and passkey consent in Windows 11
Starting with Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft has introduced a privacy consent mechanism This applies specifically to passkeys. Before an application can access your passkeys, the system will display a dialog box requesting your approval.
If the user rejects that consentThe application will not be able to register new passkeys or use them for authentication. In other words, both registration and login using access keys will be blocked for that specific app until the decision is changed.
You can manage these permissions at any time from the path Settings > Privacy & Security > Security Password Access / Passkeys (The name may vary slightly depending on the build.) From that page, you can allow or prevent individual applications from accessing passkeys.
If you accidentally block access to passkeys for an app and then want to reverse it, simply:
- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Security passkey access.
- Find the application in the list and turn the switch back on to allow the use of access keys.
In business environments, administrators can control the Visibility of this Settings page and other privacy-related passkey options via device policies (for example, using the CSP PageVisibilityList). This ensures that users have access to the necessary settings without altering other sensitive information.
Passkeys in Bluetooth-restricted environments
When using passkeys in cross-device authentication scenarios —for example, using a mobile phone as an authenticator to log in to a PC— it is essential that both the Windows device and the mobile device have Bluetooth enabled and internet connectionBluetooth is not used to copy the access key, but to securely authorize the use of the passkey located on the other device.
In some organizations, Bluetooth use is restricted for security or compliance reasons. This could also block the use of passkeys if applied too strictly. To resolve this conflict, companies can exclusively allow Bluetooth connections with FIDO2 authenticators enabled for passkeys, limiting other uses.
To achieve that fine configuration, different can be combined. MDM (Mobile Device Management) policies In Windows, this is done using the Bluetooth and device installation Configuration Service Providers (CSPs). This way, the computer will only allow pairing with devices acting as security authenticators and will block other unwanted Bluetooth profiles.
For example, using PowerShell and the WMI bridge provider, you can create a policy instance that disables discoverable mode, Bluetooth advertising, and other types of connections, but leaves them enabled. The whitelist specifies FIDO2 services. necessary for passkeys. At the same time, through device installation policies, the installation of certain Bluetooth hardware identifiers can be prevented, keeping only those related to secure authenticators (Best security tools to strengthen Windows 11).
These more advanced configurations are usually applied in high-security corporate environmentswhere the aim is to take advantage of the extra protection of passkeys without opening the door to other uses of Bluetooth that are considered risky or unnecessary.
Passkeys, 2FA and MFA: how they fit together
For years it has been recommended to use two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) to strengthen passwords: SMS codes, authenticator apps, security keys, etc. Passkeys may initially clash with these conventions, because you seemingly only use "a gesture" to log in.
In reality, a passkey incorporates integrated multiple authentication factorsOn one hand, there's something you have (the device with the private key): your PC, your mobile phone, or your security key. On the other hand, there's something you are or something you know: your fingerprint, your face, or the PIN to unlock the device. All of this happens very quickly, almost imperceptibly to the user.
This means that passkeys offer the level of protection of a well-implemented MFA ( Comparison of multi-factor authentication methods), but without requiring you to manually enter one-time codes or wait for SMS messages. The result is a system that, paradoxically, is both more usable and safer than the typical combinations of password + additional code.
Another key point is that passkeys are much harder to steal or intercept Verification codes are more complex. SMS messages, for example, can be intercepted, and authentication apps can be compromised if the phone is infected. With passkeys, an attacker would need physical access to the device and also bypass biometrics or the PIN, which drastically raises the bar for any intrusion attempt.
That is why many experts and organizations, including FIDO Alliance itself, see passkeys as natural evolution compared to passwords combined with classic 2FA. It's not just about replacing a component, but about redesigning the authentication model so that security and convenience go hand in hand.
Practical advantages of using passkeys in Windows
Beyond the theory, what really matters to the user is what they gain in their day-to-day life. And here, passkeys have several advantages over traditional passwords, especially when integrated with Windows Hello.
First, the simplicityYou don't have to worry about creating, remembering, or managing long and complex passwords (or comparing them to others). More secure password managers for WindowsThe system generates a strong passkey for you and links it to the corresponding site. Your role is reduced to unlocking the device with a gesture you perform continuously: placing your finger on the reader or looking at the camera.
Second, the protection against phishing and dictionary attacks It's far superior. Your passkey can't "work" on a fake website because it's cryptographically linked to the legitimate domain. Attackers can't trick you into "entering" your key because there's nothing to enter or reveal.
Third, the privacyWhen biometrics are involved (for example, a fingerprint), that information remains on the device and is not shared with the service or third parties. Neither the website nor the app ever receives your fingerprint or image: they only receive cryptographic confirmation that the authenticator has validated your identity.
Finally, passkeys can synchronize in some ecosystems through the cloud (for example, Google or Apple), keeping the private key protected on each device and replicating only the information necessary for the system to function across all your computers. In the case of Windows, this is combined with the credential generator and manager of compatible browsers (such as Chrome or Edge) and with Windows Hello.
All of this translates into an experience very close to “Click and enter”, with a level of security far superior to what can be achieved by memorizing passwords or using the same password on half a dozen different services.
Current situation and institutional support for passkeys
Since the major tech companies began deploying passkeys on a massive scale, the user awareness It has grown rapidly. The FIDO Alliance has highlighted that knowledge about passkeys has increased from approximately 39% of people familiar with them in 2022 to 57% in 2024, a remarkable rise in a very short time.
This increased visibility aligns with Microsoft's strong message that “The era of passwords is coming to an end” and with data from the cloud services themselves, which block thousands of attack attempts per second based on stolen or weak passwords.
In addition to industry support, there is also institutional support. NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) The US has approved the use of synchronized passkeys in its supplement to the SP 800-63B guide, which defines the technical requirements for digital identity management systems. This type of recognition helps encourage public and private organizations to adopt these technologies with greater confidence.
Everything indicates that passkeys are the next stage in the evolution of digital identityNot only do they reduce reliance on passwords, but they also simplify complex processes and significantly improve the user experience, which is key to ensuring that good security practices don't just remain on paper.
Looking at the big picture, passkeys in Windows combine an open standard like FIDOA strong layer of privacy, administrative controls for both users and businesses, and an extremely simple authentication experience through Windows Hello and complementary devices make them a central piece in the transition to a future where remembering complicated passwords is finally a thing of the past.
