Google Accounts now supports passkeys for passwordless login

Google’s next step into a passwordless future is here Advertising Passkeys – a new encryption key solution that requires a pre-authenticated device – are coming into Google Accounts on all major platforms. Starting today, Google users Can switch to passkeys and forgoing passwords and two-step verification codes altogether when logging in.

Passkeys are a more secure and convenient alternative to passwords pushed by Google. appleMicrosoft and other technology companies are allied with the FIDO Alliance. They can replace traditional passwords and other login systems such as 2FA or SMS verification with a local PIN or device-specific biometric authentication – such as a fingerprint or Face ID. This biometric data is not shared with Google (or any third party), and the passkeys reside only on your devices, providing greater security and protection since there is no password that can be stolen in a phishing attack.

When a passkey is added to a Google account, the platform will start asking for it when you log in or when it detects suspicious activity that requires additional verification. Passkeys for Google accounts are stored on any file compatible devices – like iPhones running iOS 16 and Android devices running Android 9 – and it can be shared with other devices from the operating system using services like iCloud or password managers like Dashlane and 1Password (expected to arrive in “early 2023”).

You can still use someone else’s device to temporarily access your Google Account. Selecting the “Use passkey from another device” option creates a one-time login and will not transfer the passkey to the new device. As Google notes, you should never create passkeys on a shared device because anyone who can access and unlock that device will be able to access your Google account.

Users can revoke passkeys immediately in their Google Account settings if they suspect someone else has access to the account or if they lose the only device that stored the passkey. Google says Users logged in to a file Advanced Protection Programa free service that provides additional security protection against phishing and malicious applications, and can choose to use passkeys instead of the usual physical security keys.

“We’re pleased with Google’s announcement today as it significantly moves the needle in passkey adoption given Google’s size and breadth of physical implementation — which basically enables any Google account holder to use passkeys,” said Andrew Chekyar, CEO. FIDO Alliance director, in a statement. “I also believe that this implementation will serve as a great example for other service providers and will be a turning point in the rapid adoption of passkeys.”

It will take some time until passkey support is widely adopted, so Google Accounts will continue to support existing login methods such as passwords for the foreseeable future. This gives people who may not currently have access to a device that supports biometric authentication time to transition to the new technology. Google looks He is She plans to eventually move entirely to passkeys, though, by encouraging users to make the switch now and writing on her blog that she’ll be checking out other login methods “as passkeys gain broader support and knowledge.”

Today’s announcement follows smaller implementations of passkeys by Google. In December last year, Google’s Chrome browser got passkey support, but sites and services supported by passkeys are still relatively rare. This makes it difficult to become completely password-free just yet. 1Password contains a page that references a file Websites and Services Support for passkeys, and hopefully, the authentication technology can be adopted more quickly now that companies like Google are fully embracing a passwordless future.