Are you tired of having to remember and type in your passwords to log in somewhere? Try a password: the authentication method developed by the FIDO Alliance that was quickly adopted by Apple, Google and Microsoft, among others. While not quite the industry standard yet, password keys are slowly becoming the “solution” for passwords, giving you greater security and peace of mind and taking the frustration out of passwords when it comes to protecting your online accounts.
At the forefront of password pushing is Google, which offers easy ways to set up and sync your passkeys across devices via the Chrome browser. If you’re new to passkeys and want to get started, the best place to start is by creating a passkey for your Google Account, since you obviously already have one.
Below we’ll show you how to set up a passkey for your Google account and get a glimpse of the passwordless future tech giants are promising us. For more information, don’t miss what you need to know about your iPhone’s new RCS support and this handy hack to free up space in your Gmail account without deleting all your emails.
If you want to use a hardware security key to enter your passcode and log into your Google accounts, Google has its own Titan security key. The key works with your computer, but can also connect to most iPhone and Android devices, as long as they support USB or NFC.
Details
What are the requirements for using access codes?
Before you set up your Google passkeys, you must meet the following requirements, which vary depending on the device you are using.
- For mobile devices, you must be running at least iOS 16 or Android 9.
- For your computer you must use at least MacOS Ventura or Windows 10. Your web browser must also be at least Chrome 109 from Google, Safari 16 from Apple or Edge 109 from Microsoft.
Set up passkeys with Google
In the web browser of your choice (on your phone, tablet or computer), go to g.co/passkeys. If you’re already signed in to your current Google account, you’ll be asked to enter your regular password to verify your identity. If you need to switch accounts, tap the current email address to choose from all your other Google accounts.
Now enter your password when prompted and press Next. On the next page you will be asked to create an access code. When the pop-up appears, press Continue. The passkey is stored on your device (for example, iCloud Keychain on iOS), depending on your device.
You must follow all prompts and use the biometrics your device asks to confirm your identity. Once you do this, your access key for that device will be created.
You can use your face, fingerprint, screen lock, or hardware security key to sign in to Google once your passkey is set up.
Remark: There is an option to create a passkey using another device (tablet, external security key), but the easiest method is to just create the passkey on the device you are using.
You can now use your passcode to log into your Google account. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, your passkey bypasses 2FA, because a passkey means you have physical possession of your phone, which is essentially what 2FA does. If you don’t want to use your password for any reason, you can always use your password to log in.
Have you lost your device with a passcode? Google has you
If for any reason you lose your device or it is stolen, you can still sign in to your Google Account. To use another device that can access your Google account: Go to g.co/passkeys, sign in to your account with your usual password, and delete the passkey associated with your lost or stolen device. Just press the X next to the access key and then press To delete to get rid of it and go back to using your password.
To learn more, learn how to improve your iPhone’s security in iOS 18 and 7 and change settings once you get your new iPhone 16.
Even if you don’t lose your device, you can still remove your passcode and go back to your usual password.
