New Windows 11 passkey design includes cloud sync and 1Password integration. Microsoft will soon greatly improve its passkey support within Windows 11. A redesigned Windows Hello experience will allow you to select how to save your passcodes and even sync them with your Microsoft account or store them with 1Password, Bitwarden, or other passcode providers.
A new API for third-party password and passkey managers means developers can plug directly into the Windows 11 experience, so you can use the same passkey from your mobile device to authenticate on your PC. Right now, in some apps, it’s possible to do this via QR codes and other ways to authenticate from a mobile device, but full support from Microsoft means the passcode experience on Windows is about to get a lot better.
The new Windows Hello user interface for access keys.
Microsoft is also redesigning the Windows Hello message, including the ability to set up passkeys to sync with your Microsoft account or save them elsewhere. Once you’ve completed a one-time setup process, you can use facial recognition, fingerprint, or PIN to authenticate with one passkey across multiple Windows 11 devices.
Windows Insiders will have first access to these new passkey features “in the coming months,” meaning it will be a while until all Windows 11 users see this new passkey experience. Microsoft will share more details about its improved passkey support during its Windows security sessions at the Authenticate Conference 2024 next week.