Set Up a Passkey or Fingerprint Sign-In Instead of a Password

TL;DR — A passkey lets you sign in with your fingerprint, face, or device PIN instead of typing a password. The fastest path is: sign in to the app or website, open Account/Profile → Security → Passkeys (wording varies), choose Add passkey, then approve the prompt from your device. Reading time: ~5 min

Goal

When you finish, your account will let you sign in with a passkey stored on your phone, computer, or password manager, and you will be able to use your fingerprint, face scan, or device PIN instead of entering your password.

Prerequisites

• Your account username or email address and current password for the website or app you are updating
• Access to the website or app where you want to enable passkeys
• A supported device with screen lock turned on:
  • iPhone or iPad with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode
  • Android phone with fingerprint, face unlock, or device PIN
  • Windows 11 device with Windows Hello (built-in fingerprint, face sign-in, or PIN)
  • Mac with Touch ID or a password-protected user account
• A modern browser signed in to your device account sync if you want the passkey available on multiple devices:
  • Safari, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox current version
• If your company requires two-step verification before security changes, have your authenticator app or SMS code ready
• Optional: a password manager that supports passkeys if you want to store the passkey there instead of only on the device

Steps

Step 1: Sign in with your current password

Open the website or app you use today and sign in the usual way.

Use this menu path after you are signed in:

Profile or avatar → Account → Security

Common labels you may see in the Security page:

Passkeys
Security keys
Passwordless sign-in
Sign in options

What you should see when this succeeds: a security page with an option such as Add passkey, Create passkey, or Set up passwordless sign-in.

Step 2: Start passkey setup

On the Security page, select the passkey option.

Use one of these exact actions, depending on what your site shows:

Security → Passkeys → Add passkey

Security → Passwordless sign-in → Set up

Security → Sign in options → Create passkey

If the site asks you to confirm your password again, enter it and continue.

What you should see when this succeeds: your browser or device opens a system prompt asking where to save the passkey.

Step 3: Choose where to save the passkey

In the system prompt, pick the place you want to store the passkey.

Typical choices are:

This device
Phone, tablet, or security key
Password manager

Recommended choice for most people:

This device

If you want to use your phone to approve sign-in on another device, choose:

Phone, tablet, or security key

What you should see when this succeeds: the prompt advances to a fingerprint, face, or PIN approval screen.

Step 4: Approve with fingerprint, face, or device PIN

Complete the device prompt exactly as your device asks.

Examples:

Touch the fingerprint sensor

Look at the camera for Face ID or face unlock

Enter your device PIN or computer sign-in PIN

This does not create a new password. It creates a passkey tied to your device or password manager.

What you should see when this succeeds: a confirmation message such as Passkey created, Passkey added, or You can now sign in without a password.

Step 5: Name the passkey if the site asks

Some sites let you label the passkey so you can recognize it later.

Use a clear label such as:

iPhone 16 - personal
Windows laptop - work
MacBook Air - home

Then select:

Save

What you should see when this succeeds: the new passkey appears in your account's passkey list.

Step 6: Add a second passkey on another device (recommended)

If you lose your phone or replace your laptop, a second passkey saves time.

Repeat the same menu path:

Profile or avatar → Account → Security → Passkeys → Add passkey

Then save the second passkey on a different device, such as your phone if the first one is on your laptop.

What you should see when this succeeds: two entries in your passkey list, each with a different device name.

Step 7: Keep one recovery method enabled

Do not remove every backup sign-in method unless your organization told you to do that.

Leave at least one of these enabled if your account offers it:

Authenticator app
Recovery codes
Verified email
Verified phone number

Use this common path:

Profile or avatar → Account → Security → Two-step verification

What you should see when this succeeds: your security page still shows at least one recovery option in addition to your passkey.

Verify it works

First, sign out of the website or app.

Use this menu path:

Profile or avatar → Sign out

Then go back to the sign-in page. You should see one of these options:

Sign in with a passkey
Use passkey
Continue with device

Select it and complete the prompt with your fingerprint, face, or device PIN.

Expected result:

You are signed in without typing your account password.

Also verify from your account security page:

Profile or avatar → Account → Security → Passkeys

Expected result:

At least one active passkey is listed, usually with a device name and creation date.

If you added two passkeys, test one on each device.

Common pitfalls

You are looking in the browser settings instead of the account security page

Mistake: opening Chrome, Safari, or Edge settings first and trying to turn on passkeys there for a specific website.

Symptom: you can manage saved passkeys, but the website still only asks for a password.

One-line fix: sign in to the website first, then open:

Profile or avatar → Account → Security → Passkeys → Add passkey

Screen lock is not enabled on the device

Mistake: trying to create a passkey on a phone or computer that has no PIN, passcode, fingerprint, or face sign-in configured.

Symptom: the passkey prompt fails, or the option to save on the device is missing.

One-line fix: turn on a device screen lock first, then retry passkey setup.

You canceled the system prompt and the site looks stuck

Mistake: closing the fingerprint or face prompt before approving it.

Symptom: the website spins, shows an error, or returns to the Security page without adding anything.

One-line fix: refresh the page, go back to:

Account → Security → Passkeys → Add passkey

and complete the device prompt without closing it.

The passkey was saved on the wrong device

Mistake: choosing This device on a shared computer or on a device you do not plan to keep.

Symptom: sign-in works only on that machine, or you later cannot find the passkey where you expected it.

One-line fix: remove that passkey from:

Account → Security → Passkeys

then create a new one and choose your personal phone, laptop, or password manager.

You removed your password or backup method too early

Mistake: deleting or forgetting all recovery options right after adding the first passkey.

Symptom: if the device is lost or replaced, account recovery becomes slow or impossible.

One-line fix: add a second passkey on another device and keep one recovery method enabled before removing anything else.

The sign-in page does not show a passkey option yet

Mistake: assuming setup failed immediately after creation.

Symptom: the account security page shows a passkey, but the main sign-in page still defaults to password entry.

One-line fix: sign out fully, close the browser tab, reopen the sign-in page, and look for:

Sign in with a passkey
Use passkey

If it still does not appear, use the username or email field first; many sites show the passkey button after you enter your account identifier.

This article was written by an AI system and published pending human review. Verify anything you intend to act on.