Passwordless digital life is almost here in 2023. Major tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple are urging their users to get rid of passwords, setting the trend for a passwordless future in the digital world. Microsoft is the first player to introduce this new passwordless authentication, followed by Google with the recent announcement of Passkeys and Apple coming up.
If you are tired of remembering passwords or using the same passwords or weak passwords for multiple accounts, this secure and new effortless authentication method might be just what you need. In this guide you will learn what Google Passkeys are and how to set up and use Passkeys in your Google account.
Why do we need a passwordless future?
Passwords have long been the primary means of securing your online accounts. A password is a simple text created along with your username or email address that serves as a secret code to log into a particular website or app. A password should be easy to remember, and it should also be secure so no one knows about it.
Setting passwords, securing them and remembering them requires some effort from the user. Some find it difficult to remember a password, and some use the same passwords over and over or weak passwords that are easy to guess, making them vulnerable to attacks.
To solve these problems, several technologies have been developed that aim to eliminate the need for passwords. One of the most promising solutions is biometric authentication, which uses a person’s unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition or voice recognition, to verify identity.
These solutions are not only more secure than passwords, but also more convenient and easy to use, as users don’t have to type or remember their passwords. In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards a passwordless future.
OK! Now what are google passwords
Google Passkeys is a new authentication technology developed by Google that uses the same biometric authentication to authenticate when logging into Google accounts.
It is a passwordless login method that allows you to use your smartphone as an authentication device. When you sign in to any website or app on your phone or desktop, you simply unlock your phone and you’re successfully signed in to the account without having to enter your password.
This new authentication system is based on the standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium. The way it works is simple: when a user tries to log in to their Google account on a computer with their phone, they receive a notification on their Android smartphone asking them to confirm the login attempt. Then the user can use biometric authentication such as a fingerprint, FaceID, PIN or pattern to authenticate and confirm the login process.
To use Google Passkeys, a user must first register their mobile phone as a physical authentication device. After registration, the user can log in to their Google account on another device. As described above, the user receives a notification asking them to confirm authentication. Google Passkeys also uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to establish a secure connection between the authentication device and the device you want to use to sign in.
Due to limitations, you can currently only create Google Passkeys on laptops and desktops running Windows 10 or macOS Ventura or later, and on mobile phones or tablets running Android 9 or later and iOS 16 or later. You can view the full list of devices compatible with Google Passkeys on the support page.
How to set up and use Google passwords
Before setting up Google Passkeys, make sure your device is compatible with the Google Passkeys setup. We have mentioned the requirements above. Once your device meets all the basic requirements, follow the steps below.
Set up Google Passkeys on Android
- Open your favorite browser and go to myaccount.google.com
- In the top navigation bar, click the Security tab
- Scroll down and click Keys.
- Now click on “Use access codes“.
- That is it. You have successfully created a password for your Google account.
Set up Google Passkeys on desktop
The process is almost similar to setting up Passkey on your Android smartphone. Note that I use a different Google account to set up Google Passkeys on the desktop. This will not cause any problems.
Set up Google Passkeys on iPhone
- Open your favorite browser and go to myaccount.google.com on your iPhone
- Click the Security tab in the top navigation bar
- Scroll down and click Keys.
- Now click Use passwords.
- That is it. You have successfully created a password for your Google account.
How to use Google Passkeys to login with your account
Using Google Passkeys to sign into Google accounts is as easy as setting up Google Passkeys. But there are a few things to keep in mind before using it. First of all, your Google account must be signed in to your authentication device (the device you use for biometric authentication). And both devices must be connected via Bluetooth. Once you’ve met the required requirements, follow the steps below to sign up for Google accounts with passwordless access keys.
Best practices for using Google passwords
- Enable two-factor authentication: While passkeys are a more secure way to authenticate your Google account, 2FA (two-factor authentication) can provide an extra layer of security to protect your account.
- Do not create passkeys on public and shared devices: It is strongly recommended not to set passkeys on public devices. Other people can easily access your Google account if they access the publicly shared device.
- If necessary, sign out of your Google account: When you remove your Google account from a particular device, the access keys associated with that Google account are removed. If you’re using a third-party app for Passkeys, you’ll need to sign out of your Google account on other devices.
- Monitor Activity: Monitor your account activity and enable alerts for suspicious activity
- Manage activity: Regularly review and manage your account’s security settings and make sure you’re taking full advantage of all security features.
Secure your digital life with Google Passkeys
Remembering passwords is now an old-fashioned method. Thanks to the efforts of big companies, passwordless authentication is almost a reality and anyone, including you, can log into an app or website without using a password. Access codes not only provide an easy login process, but are also more secure than the traditional password login.
The changes are just beginning and we can expect that in the future every app and website will embrace this trend and provide the best experience for the end user. We hope this guide has helped you. If you’re having trouble creating Google Passkeys or logging in with Passkeys, please share your experience below so we can help.
FAQs about setting up Google passwords for Gmail
If you can’t use Google Passkeys, you can click Try other methods on the Google sign in page for other alternative methods to sign in to your Google account. These alternate methods are also available if you have an active Google passcode for your Google account. I’ve personally used alternate methods when I’ve had issues with Google Passkeys.
No problem. You can remove the device from the list of created access keys if you lose the device. Just go to your google account > sign in without a password or any other alternative method > go to the Security tab and click Keys. Under the passkeys you created, click the X next to the passcode you want to remove. To delete the access keys on the device, select Manage all devices at the top and select the phone you want to sign out, then click Sign out.
If you change your mind, you can disable Passkeys in your Google account and use traditional password login. To remove Passkeys from your Google account, go to account.google.com, go to the Security tab and click the Skip password option, if possible and disable it.
Most password managers also support passkeys. Dashlane, a popular password manager, has already announced support for in-app passkeys as well as support for storing external passkeys like Google Passkeys. Personally, I use Dashlane to manage my passwords and can also save passwords with the Dashlane password manager.
Access keys are in the early stages of public availability. It will definitely take time for them to be widely adopted by apps and websites. If the website or app supports Passkeys, you’ll see Sign in with Passkeys.
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