Home » How To » How To Set Up Passkey for Your Microsoft Account

How To Set Up Passkey for Your Microsoft Account

A passkey lets you sign into your Microsoft account without a password. It’s a much more secure and easier way to access your MS account. In this tutorial, I will show you how to create and set up a passkey for your Microsoft account and use it to log in easily. Let’s get started.

What Is a Passkey? In Simple Terms

A passkey is a modern, much safer way to log into your accounts and devices without using a password. It stores a secret key (called a private key) on your device that only you can access, and it uses that key to log you in. The secret key can’t be stolen or reused. It’s unique to your device, your account, and you.

Related: How to change Windows 11 password

Before You Begin

  • The steps shown here are for a Windows 11 device, but they’re the same on Android and iPhone as well with minor changes.

Steps To Setup Passkey for Your Microsoft Account

  1. Open the Microsoft account page.
  2. Log into your MS account.
  3. Go to the “Security” tab on the sidebar.
  4. Click the “Manage how I sign in” button under “Account”.
  5. Click the “Add a new way to sign in or verify“.
  6. Click the “Face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key” option.
  7. Enter your Windows user account PIN or password to continue.
  8. The passkey is created and saved on your device. Click “OK“.
  9. Give the passkey a name, click “Next” and “OK“.
  10. That’s it. You’ve created the passkey for your Microsoft account.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

As the first step, open the Microsoft account page in the web browser of your choice and log into your account.

log into ms account with password

After logging into your MS account, go to the “Security” tab on the sidebar.

go to the security tab

On the right page, click the “Manage how I sign in” button under the “Account” section.

click manage button

Next, click the “Add a new way to sign in or verify” link under the sign-in methods section.

click add a new way

Now, click the “Face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key” option.

click passkey option

Windows will now ask for your user account password or PIN, type it, and press “Enter” on your keyboard.

enter windows pin

Important Note: If the Microsoft account for which you are trying to create a passkey is already logged into a mobile device (Android or iPhone), Microsoft tries to use that device to save the passkey. In that case, select your mobile device from the listed options. After that, follow the on-screen instructions.

passkey device option

As soon as you authenticate yourself, the passkey is created and saved to your Windows device. Click “OK” to continue.

passkey created and  saved to system

Now, give the passkey a friendly name and click “Next“. This makes it easier to remember on which device you’ve created the passkey.

name the passkey

Finally, click the “OK” button and you are done. The passkey for your Microsoft account is created and from now on, you can use it to log into your account without entering the password.

passkey created and saved to system

Using Passkey To Log Into Your Microsoft Account

Logging into your Microsoft account using a passkey is super easy. Here’s how:

When you see the login prompt, type your Microsoft account email ID and click “Next“.

log into ms account

When it prompts for the password, instead of typing it in, click the “Use your face, fingerprint, PIN, or security key instead” link at the bottom.

click use alternate method link

Microsoft account automatically detects that you have a passkey and asks you to enter your Windows user account PIN, fingerprint, or password to make sure it’s you who is using the system. After authenticating, you are logged in automatically. It’s that simple.

type Windows pin

Keep Your Microsoft Account Secure with Passkey

In conclusion, passkey is a simple yet much more secure way to not only protect your Microsoft account from hacks and phishing attacks but also to make it easier to sign in. You can easily create a passkey from the Security tab on the Microsoft Account Settings page. Once created, you can use the passkey stored on your mobile phone or Windows device to quickly log into your MS account. You can also manage your passkeys in Windows 11 using the Settings app.

If you have any questions or need help, leave a comment below. I’ll be happy to help.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *