Microsoft to Make Passkeys the Default for New Accounts, Phasing Out Passwords

Microsoft is making a big shift in how users create new accounts by encouraging the use of passkeys instead of passwords. The company says that soon, anyone setting up a new Microsoft account will be guided to use a passkey during the sign-up process, which means passwords will no longer be the default option, as reported by PCMag.

Today, more than 99% of people who sign into their Windows devices with their Microsoft account do so using Windows Hello. - Microsoft

Passkeys let users log in using biometrics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or device-based PINs, instead of remembering and typing long passwords.

According to Microsoft, 98% of passkey login attempts are successful, compared with only 32% for passwords. The company also says passkey logins are eight times faster than traditional passwords or two-factor authentication methods.

Microsoft has been adding passkey support to most of its consumer apps since last year ...