Starting today, May 3, 2023, Google integrates passkey support for Google Accounts.
A passkey is a digital credential, tied to a user account and a website or application. Passkeys allow users to authenticate without having to enter a username, password, or provide any additional authentication factor. This technology aims to replace legacy authentication mechanisms such as passwords.
How do passkeys work?
Passkeys are intended to be used through operating system infrastructure that allows passkey managers to create, backup, and make passkeys available to the applications running on that operating system. On Chrome on Android, passkeys are stored in the Google Password Manager, which synchronizes passkeys between the user’s Android devices that are signed into the same Google account.
What do you need to know?
Passkey support will be integrated because they’re easier to use, and safer than most other forms of 2-SV. This authentication method will work on any devices that have registered passkeys, which includes all Android phones on which you’re signed in.
With this integration, you’ll be able to sign in to your Google Account with just a passkey that uses your fingerprint, face, or screen lock if “Skip password when possible” is turned on for your account. You won’t need to enter a password to sign in to your account, or to select only a single phone to use as your built-in security key any longer.
What do you need to do?
No action is required from you. You can change this anytime by turning off Skip password when possible in your Google Account security page.
