Passwords get guessed, reused and phished. A passkey replaces the password with something you already use to unlock your phone or computer: a fingerprint, a face scan or a screen-lock PIN. Google says passkeys are more resistant to phishing because they can’t be shared, copied, written down or accidentally handed to someone else.
What you need
Google lists these minimums:
- Operating system: Windows 10 or later, macOS Ventura or later, ChromeOS 109 or later, Android 9 or later, or iOS 16 or later.
- Browser: Chrome 109 or later, Safari 16 or later, Edge 109 or later, or Firefox 122 or later.
- A screen lock turned on for the device.
- On Apple devices, iCloud Keychain turned on. To use your phone to sign in on a computer, Bluetooth needs to be on.
Create the passkey
- On the device you want to use, go to myaccount.google.com/signinoptions/passkeys and sign in if asked.
- Select Create a passkey.
- Unlock your device when prompted, using your fingerprint, face or screen lock.
Using a hardware security key instead? Choose Use another device and follow the on-screen steps.
One caution from Google: once a passkey exists on a device, anyone who can unlock that device can get into your Google Account. Use it only on devices you control, with a screen lock nobody else knows.
Sign in on another computer with your phone
- Enter your username on the computer.
- Select Try another way, then Use your passkey.
- Scan the QR code that appears using your phone’s camera.
- Tap Use passkey to sign in and confirm with your phone’s lock.
Remove a passkey or handle a lost device
If a phone or laptop is lost or stolen, sign in to your Google Account from another device, go to Security & sign-in, open Passkeys and security keys, select the passkey for the missing device and choose Remove.
It’s also worth keeping your password and account recovery options current, so you have another way in if you ever lose access to your devices.
Prefer to keep typing your password first? Under Security & sign-in, turn off Skip password when possible.