Passwords have been the default way to protect online accounts for decades, but their weaknesses are increasingly difficult to ignore. Password reuse, credential theft, phishing and account recovery problems continue to create security risks for both consumers and organisations.
Passkeys offer a different approach.
Instead of relying on a password that users have to remember and servers have to protect, passkeys use public-key cryptography to authenticate users. They can provide a simpler login experience while making credential phishing significantly more difficult.
By 2026, the question for many organisations is no longer whether passkeys are worth considering. The more important question is how passkeys should be deployed.
Should you allow passkeys alongside passwords? Should you move directly towards passwordless authentication? Should employees use synced passkeys, device-bound credentials or hardware security keys?
There is no single answer that works for every organisation.
This guide explores the main passkey options available in 2026 and the strategies businesses can use to introduce them safely and effectively.
What Are Passkeys?
A passkey is a digital credential used to authenticate a user without requiring them to enter a traditional password.
Passkeys are based on FIDO standards and WebAuthn technology. Instead of sharing a secret such as a password with a website or application, authentication relies on a cryptographic key pair.
One key remains private and is protected on the user’s device or credential provider. The corresponding public key is registered with the service.
When the user signs in, they normally verify their identity using a method already available on their device, such as:
- fingerprint recognition
- facial recognition
- a device PIN
- another secure device-unlock method
The private key is then used to complete the authentication process without being sent to the website.
This approach provides one of the most important advantages of passkeys: there is no password for an attacker to steal through a conventional phishing page.
Passkeys can therefore improve both security and user experience, particularly when compared with password-based authentication combined with SMS codes or one-time passwords.
The Main Passkey Options in 2026
Not all passkeys work in exactly the same way.
One of the first decisions organisations need to make is how credentials should be stored and whether they should move between devices.
Synced passkeys
Synced passkeys are designed to be available across multiple devices through a credential provider.
For example, a passkey created on one device may become available on other devices linked to the same credential ecosystem.
This can make authentication much easier for users who own multiple devices or regularly replace their phones and computers.
Synced passkeys are particularly attractive for:
- consumer applications
- ecommerce platforms
- SaaS products
- bring-your-own-device environments
- organisations prioritising convenience and adoption
The main advantage is usability. Users do not necessarily have to register a new credential every time they change devices.
However, organisations should still evaluate how credential providers protect synchronisation, recovery and account access.
Device-bound passkeys
Device-bound passkeys remain associated with a particular authenticator or device rather than being synchronised across multiple devices.
This approach may be preferable when an organisation wants tighter control over where authentication credentials are stored.
Device-bound credentials can be useful for:
- managed corporate devices
- regulated environments
- privileged access
- higher-assurance authentication
- organisations with strict device-management policies
The trade-off is convenience. If a credential is tied to a particular device, replacing or losing that device may require additional enrolment or recovery steps.
Hardware security keys
FIDO2-compatible hardware security keys can also be used as passkey authenticators.
These physical devices are particularly useful when organisations require a highly controlled authentication method that is separate from a user’s phone or computer.
Hardware keys are commonly considered for:
- system administrators
- privileged accounts
- finance teams
- executives
- developers with production access
- users at elevated risk of targeted phishing attacks
Many organisations will not need to issue hardware keys to every employee. Instead, they can form part of a broader authentication strategy based on account risk.
Where Can Passkeys Be Stored?
Passkeys can be managed through several types of platforms and credential providers.
Depending on the device and operating environment, users may store or access passkeys through services such as:
- Apple Passwords and iCloud Keychain
- Google Password Manager
- Windows authentication and Windows Hello
- Microsoft authentication services
- third-party password managers
- FIDO2-compatible hardware security keys
This flexibility is useful, but it also creates an important design consideration.
Organisations should avoid assuming that every user operates within a single technology ecosystem.
A customer might create an account on an iPhone, later sign in on a Windows computer and occasionally use an Android tablet. Employees may also work across company-managed and personal devices.
A good passkey implementation therefore needs to account for cross-platform and cross-device authentication from the beginning.
Strategy 1: Add Passkeys Alongside Passwords
For organisations with an established user base, introducing passkeys alongside existing passwords is often the safest migration path.
Instead of immediately removing passwords, users are given the option to register a passkey.
Passkey enrolment can be encouraged at several points in the user journey, including:
- after a successful password login
- from account security settings
- during MFA enrolment
- after account recovery
- after signing in from a trusted device
Once a passkey has been created, the application can prioritise it during future authentication attempts.
This strategy has several advantages.
Users can gradually become familiar with passkeys, while organisations can measure adoption and identify compatibility or recovery issues before making larger authentication changes.
Over time, the organisation can reduce reliance on passwords as passkey usage increases.
Strategy 2: Make Passkeys the Preferred Sign-In Method
The next stage is to make passkeys the preferred authentication method while retaining passwords as a fallback.
Rather than presenting users with a password field immediately, an application can attempt to discover whether a passkey is available.
If one exists, the user can authenticate using their device’s normal biometric or PIN verification.
The experience can be significantly faster than typing:
- a username
- a password
- an SMS code or authenticator code
Passwords remain available for users who cannot yet use a passkey, but they gradually become the secondary authentication method.
This approach works particularly well for consumer services and SaaS platforms where eliminating passwords immediately would create unnecessary support and recovery problems.
Organisations should monitor how often users fall back to passwords. A high fallback rate may indicate device compatibility issues, insufficient passkey enrolment or confusing authentication flows.
Strategy 3: Move Towards Passkey-First Accounts
New applications have another option: avoid creating passwords in the first place.
Instead of asking new users to create a password during registration, an application can allow them to establish a passkey as their primary credential.
This can remove several familiar problems from the account lifecycle:
- weak passwords
- forgotten passwords
- password resets
- password reuse
- credential stuffing
- password database exposure
However, passwordless account creation makes account recovery even more important.
Users will eventually lose phones, replace laptops or change credential providers. Organisations therefore need a recovery strategy before launching passkey-first accounts at scale.
Suitable recovery mechanisms will depend on the service and its security requirements, but the recovery process should not undermine the security benefits provided by passkeys.
Strategy 4: Use a Hybrid Enterprise Passkey Model
Large organisations do not necessarily need to choose one passkey model for every employee.
A better approach may be to match authentication methods to the risk associated with different users and systems.
For example:
Standard workforce users
Synced or managed passkeys can provide a convenient authentication experience for everyday applications.
Employees using managed devices
Device-bound credentials may provide additional control where the organisation manages endpoints and authentication policies.
Administrators and privileged users
Hardware security keys or tightly controlled device-bound credentials may be appropriate for accounts with elevated access.
Contractors and BYOD users
Policies may allow selected synced passkeys while placing additional restrictions around access to sensitive systems.
This risk-based approach can provide stronger security without forcing every employee to use the most restrictive authentication method available.
Strategy 5: Prioritise High-Risk Users First
Another practical deployment strategy is to introduce passkeys first for users who would benefit most from phishing-resistant authentication.
Potential priority groups include:
- IT administrators
- cloud administrators
- finance personnel
- executives
- security teams
- developers with production access
- employees frequently targeted by phishing attempts
Starting with a controlled population allows the organisation to test:
- enrolment procedures
- authentication policies
- device compatibility
- credential replacement
- account recovery
- help-desk processes
- user training
Lessons from the initial deployment can then be used to improve the experience before passkeys are introduced to the wider workforce.
Important Passkey Security Decisions
Deploying passkeys involves more than enabling a new button on the login page.
Organisations need to establish policies governing how passkeys can be created, stored, recovered and revoked.
Important questions include:
Should passkeys be synced or device-bound?
Convenience may favour synced credentials, while higher-assurance environments may prefer device-bound options.
Are unmanaged devices allowed?
A company may allow users to authenticate from personal devices for some applications while restricting access to sensitive systems.
Can users choose third-party credential providers?
Some organisations may allow users to store passkeys in external password managers. Others may restrict credentials to approved platforms.
Is authenticator attestation required?
Enterprise environments may want greater assurance about the type of authenticator being used.
Which authenticators should be approved?
Policies can define approved platforms, security keys or authenticator models.
How are credentials revoked?
Processes should exist for lost devices, compromised accounts, departing employees and stolen hardware security keys.
These decisions should be made before passkeys become a critical part of the organisation’s authentication infrastructure.
Don’t Forget Passkey Recovery
Recovery is one of the most important parts of any passkey strategy.
A highly secure authentication method provides limited protection if attackers can bypass it through a weak account-recovery process.
Organisations should consider scenarios such as:
- a user loses their phone
- an employee receives a replacement laptop
- a user changes from one mobile ecosystem to another
- a hardware security key is lost
- a user deletes a passkey accidentally
- a credential provider account becomes inaccessible
Where appropriate, users can be encouraged to register more than one passkey or maintain an approved recovery credential.
Applications should also provide a clear credential-management page that allows users to see registered passkeys and remove credentials they no longer recognise or use.
Following a successful account recovery, users can be prompted to create a new passkey so that they do not remain dependent on weaker fallback methods.
Cross-Device and Cross-Platform Passkeys
A successful passkey deployment also needs to account for situations where the passkey is not stored on the device currently being used.
For example, a user might open a website on a Windows computer while their passkey is stored on their smartphone.
Cross-device authentication can allow the phone to participate in the login process, often through a QR-code-based flow and secure proximity checks.
This becomes increasingly important as users move between:
- smartphones
- tablets
- desktop computers
- personal laptops
- corporate devices
- different operating systems
Testing these scenarios should form part of any passkey deployment programme.
A passkey experience that works perfectly inside one technology ecosystem but fails when users switch devices can create support issues and slow adoption.
Passkeys vs Passwords and Traditional MFA
Passkeys should not simply be viewed as another authentication factor.
They fundamentally change how authentication credentials work.
Traditional authentication often follows this model:
Username + password + second factor
The second factor may be an SMS code, authenticator app notification or one-time password.
Passkeys can combine device possession with local user verification, while using cryptographic authentication that is bound to the legitimate website or application.
When evaluating authentication options, organisations should compare several factors:
- phishing resistance
- user experience
- authentication speed
- device portability
- recovery options
- deployment complexity
- enterprise control
- help-desk requirements
- compatibility with existing applications
Traditional MFA will continue to exist in many environments, particularly for legacy systems. However, passkeys provide an opportunity to move authentication away from reusable secrets rather than simply adding more controls around passwords.
A Practical Passkey Migration Roadmap
For organisations beginning a passkey programme in 2026, a phased migration can reduce risk.
1. Audit existing authentication
Identify where passwords, SMS OTPs, authenticator apps, security keys and federated identity are currently used.
2. Identify target users
Determine which user groups should receive passkeys first.
High-risk users or technically controlled employee populations may be suitable initial candidates.
3. Decide which passkey models to support
Choose whether your environment will support synced passkeys, device-bound credentials, hardware security keys or a combination.
4. Implement passkey support
Applications typically need WebAuthn-compatible registration and authentication capabilities.
5. Build enrolment and credential management
Users need a simple way to create, view and remove passkeys.
6. Introduce passkeys as an option
Allow users to gain experience with passkey authentication without immediately removing existing methods.
7. Promote passkey-first authentication
Once adoption increases, make passkeys the preferred login method.
8. Measure fallback usage
Track how frequently users return to passwords, SMS or other legacy authentication.
9. Strengthen recovery
Make sure lost devices and account-recovery scenarios have been tested.
10. Reduce weaker authentication methods
As passkey coverage improves, organisations can gradually restrict or remove authentication methods that present greater security risks.
Passkey Metrics Worth Tracking
Passkey adoption should be treated as a measurable security and user-experience programme.
Useful metrics include:
- percentage of eligible users with a passkey
- percentage of authentication attempts using passkeys
- passkey registration completion rate
- successful passkey authentication rate
- password fallback rate
- SMS OTP usage
- failed login rate
- average authentication time
- account-recovery frequency
- authentication-related help-desk tickets
These metrics help identify whether passkeys are actually reducing friction and security exposure rather than simply becoming another authentication option users ignore.
Common Passkey Deployment Mistakes
Passkeys can improve authentication significantly, but poor implementation can introduce unnecessary complexity.
Common mistakes include:
Treating passkeys as another MFA factor
Passkeys should be evaluated as an alternative authentication architecture, not simply another code users must provide after entering a password.
Supporting only one device ecosystem
Users frequently move between Apple, Android and Windows devices. Cross-platform scenarios should be tested.
Removing passwords too quickly
Moving to passwordless authentication before recovery and compatibility processes are mature can generate account lockouts and support problems.
Ignoring BYOD
Employee authentication policies need to account for personal devices, contractors and remote workers.
Using overly technical language
Most users do not need to understand WebAuthn, public-key cryptography or authenticator terminology.
The interface should simply explain what users need to do.
Hiding passkey enrolment
If the option to create a passkey is buried several pages inside account settings, adoption will remain low.
Neglecting credential management
Users should be able to see which passkeys are associated with their account and remove credentials they no longer use.
Ignoring recovery security
A weak recovery mechanism can become the easiest route for an attacker to bypass a strong passkey implementation.
What Is the Best Passkey Strategy for 2026?
The best approach depends on the organisation, its users and the level of assurance required.
For a consumer application, synced passkeys combined with progressive enrolment can provide a strong balance between security and usability.
For an existing SaaS platform, a phased journey may work best:
password + passkey option → passkey preferred → passwordless for eligible users
For an enterprise workforce, a combination of synced and device-bound passkeys can accommodate different device and security requirements.
For administrators and privileged users, device-bound credentials or hardware security keys can provide additional control.
For a new digital service, passkey-first account creation may remove the need to introduce passwords at all.
The important point is that organisations do not need to choose a single passkey model.
A mature strategy can use different credential types for different risks while gradually reducing dependence on passwords.
Frequently Asked Questions About Passkeys
Are passkeys replacing passwords in 2026?
Passkeys are increasingly being used as an alternative to passwords, but the transition will be gradual. Many organisations will continue supporting passwords while passkey adoption grows and legacy applications are modernised.
What is the difference between synced and device-bound passkeys?
Synced passkeys can be made available across multiple devices through a credential provider. Device-bound passkeys remain associated with a particular authenticator or device.
The right choice depends on the balance between convenience and organisational control.
Are passkeys more secure than MFA?
It depends on the type of MFA.
Passkeys provide strong phishing resistance because authentication is cryptographically bound to the legitimate service. This can provide advantages over password-based authentication combined with factors such as SMS OTPs.
Can passkeys be phished?
Passkeys are designed to resist traditional credential-phishing attacks. Unlike passwords, users do not type a reusable secret into a website, and WebAuthn authentication is bound to the legitimate site’s domain.
However, organisations still need to protect account recovery, endpoints and other parts of the identity lifecycle.
What happens if I lose the phone containing my passkey?
The answer depends on how the passkey is stored.
Synced passkeys may be available through another authenticated device connected to the credential provider. Device-bound credentials may require another registered passkey or an account-recovery procedure.
This is why recovery planning is essential.
Can businesses use passkeys for employees?
Yes. Passkeys can be used for workforce authentication, including managed enterprise environments.
Organisations can apply different authentication policies depending on user role, device type and account risk.
Can passkeys work across Apple, Android and Windows devices?
Passkey standards are designed for interoperability, and cross-device authentication can allow users to authenticate using a credential stored on another device.
However, organisations should test their specific applications, operating systems and credential providers before large-scale deployment.
Are hardware security keys the same as passkeys?
Hardware security keys can store FIDO credentials and participate in passkey authentication, but not every passkey is stored on a physical security key.
Passkeys can also reside on phones, computers and credential-management platforms.
Should businesses eliminate passwords completely?
Not necessarily immediately.
For many organisations, gradually introducing passkeys and monitoring adoption is safer than removing passwords in a single step.
Passwordless authentication becomes more practical once enrolment, device compatibility and recovery processes are mature.
How do you migrate users from passwords to passkeys?
A common strategy is to allow users to create a passkey after a successful password login, then make passkeys the preferred authentication method.
As adoption grows, organisations can reduce reliance on passwords and weaker fallback methods.
Conclusion
Passkeys are changing the authentication conversation.
Instead of asking users to create increasingly complicated passwords and then protecting those passwords with additional authentication factors, organisations can move towards cryptographic credentials that are easier to use and significantly more resistant to phishing.
But successful passkey adoption requires more than enabling the technology.
Organisations need to decide:
- which passkey types they will support
- where credentials can be stored
- which users should receive them first
- how cross-device authentication will work
- how credentials will be managed
- how account recovery will be secured
- when weaker authentication methods can be retired
For many organisations in 2026, the most practical strategy will be gradual: introduce passkeys alongside existing authentication, make them easier and more attractive to use, measure adoption and eventually reduce dependence on passwords.
The goal is not simply to deploy passkeys.
It is to build an authentication experience that is more secure, easier for users and sustainable across devices, platforms and account lifecycles.
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