At Last: Sync Passkeys Across Your Devices

Be honest, when was the last time you forgot a password and ended up in that endless loop of “reset your password” emails? It’s one of the biggest frustrations of modern working life. But it might finally be coming to an end.

Be honest, when was the last time you forgot a password and ended up in that endless loop of “reset your password” emails? It’s one of the biggest frustrations of modern working life. But it might finally be coming to an end.

Microsoft has announced that passkeys can now be synced across your devices using your Microsoft Account in Edge. If you’re not familiar with passkeys yet, they’re a clever, password-free way to log in. Think of them as a more secure and much simpler replacement for passwords. Instead of typing a string of letters, numbers, and symbols, you use your device’s built-in security, like Face ID, fingerprint recognition, or a PIN, to prove it’s really you. The system uses something called the FIDO2 standard, which ties your login information directly to your device. 

No passwords to steal, no phishing links to fall for. Until now, though, there’s been one big problem: Passkeys were usually stored locally on your device. That meant if your laptop died or you upgraded to a new PC without backing them up, you could lose access to your accounts completely. 

Not ideal.

Now, with Microsoft’s latest update to Edge, that headache is over. Your passkeys can be securely stored and synced in the cloud, protected by your Microsoft Account and an extra PIN via Microsoft Password Manager. That means you can sign in to any Windows 11 PC with your account and your passkeys come with you. No fuss, no lockouts, no panic.

And before you worry, this doesn’t mean your data is suddenly up for grabs. Microsoft has made it clear that synced passkeys are encrypted in the cloud. They’ll have multiple layers of protection. In fact, it’s just as secure as storing them locally, but much more convenient.

This is another small but important step toward better productivity and security. Fewer passwords mean fewer resets, fewer support tickets, and far less risk of someone reusing weak passwords or falling for phishing scams. 

And for your employees, it’s one less thing to remember.

Passkeys are already rolling out to Windows 11, with support for Mac and mobile on the way. So next time you’re prompted to “Save as passkey” in Edge, say yes. If you have questions about passkeys, reach out!!

Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.