How to set up and manage a passkey for passwordless sign-in to your Microsoft 365 account

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to set up and manage a passkey for passwordless sign-in to your Microsoft 365 account. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Passkeys provide a faster and more secure way to sign in to your Microsoft 365 account. Instead of typing a password, you can authenticate using your device's built-in security, such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or a PIN. This guide explains how to set up and manage passkeys for your Microsoft 365 account.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

• A Microsoft 365 account provided by 220 Internet Services.
• A compatible device running Windows 10/11, macOS, iOS, or Android.
• A supported web browser, such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari.
• Bluetooth enabled on your device if you plan to use a phone to sign in to a computer.

Passkeys are stored locally on your device and are not shared with Microsoft, reducing the risk of phishing attacks.

Setting Up a Passkey

1. Open your web browser and go to the Microsoft Account sign-in page.
2. Enter your email address and password, then select Sign in.
3. If prompted, complete any existing multi-factor authentication steps.
4. Once logged in, select your profile icon in the top right corner and choose View account.
5. In the left-hand menu, select Security.
6. Under Account security, select Advanced security options.
7. Scroll down to the Additional security section and select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
8. Choose Face, fingerprint, PIN or security key and select Next.
9. Follow the on-screen prompts to create your passkey using your device's biometric sensor or PIN.
10. Give your passkey a recognisable name (for example, "Work Laptop" or "iPhone") and select Next.
11. Select Done to complete the setup.

Signing In with a Passkey

1. Go to the Microsoft 365 sign-in page.
2. Enter your email address and select Next.
3. When asked for your password, look for the option to Sign in with a passkey or select Other ways to sign in and choose the passkey option.
4. Authenticate using your fingerprint, face, or device PIN.
5. You will be signed in to your Microsoft 365 account without entering a password.

Managing Your Passkeys

Viewing Registered Passkeys

1. Sign in to your Microsoft Account.
2. Go to Security > Advanced security options.
3. Under Ways to prove who you are, you will see a list of your registered passkeys.

Removing a Passkey

1. In Advanced security options, locate the passkey you wish to remove.
2. Select Remove next to that passkey.
3. Confirm the removal when prompted.

If you remove all passkeys from your account, you will be required to use your password and other authentication methods to sign in.

Troubleshooting

Passkey option not appearing

• Ensure your browser is up to date.
• Check that your device's operating system supports WebAuthn (Windows 10/11, macOS Ventura or later, iOS 16 or later, Android 9 or later).
• Clear your browser cache and try again.

Device not recognising biometrics

• Ensure Windows Hello, Touch ID, or Face ID is configured on your device.
• Check that your device's camera or fingerprint sensor is clean and unobstructed.
• Restart your device and attempt the sign-in process again.

Lost or replaced device

If you no longer have access to the device where your passkey is stored, sign in using an alternative method (such as your password or authenticator app) and remove the old passkey from your Advanced security options. You can then set up a new passkey on your replacement device.

If you continue to experience issues with passkey setup or sign-in, please Open a Ticket with our support team.

For help resetting your Windows login password, see our Password reset (Windows login) guide.

Still Having Issues?