Microsoft wants to work towards a future without passwords and is therefore announcing improved support for passkeys for Windows 11.

One of the most eye-catching new features Microsoft announced is support for third-party passkey applications such as 1Password or Bitwarden. This makes it easier to sync the same passkeys across different Windows 11 devices.

Exit passwords, welcome passkeys

The Windows Hello user experience is also being completely overhauled to simplify the passkey creation process. When a user visits a website that supports passkeys, the system will prompt them to save their passkey to their Microsoft account or an alternative third-party application. Microsoft emphasizes that the passkeys are protected by end-to-end encryption. According to Android Authority, passwords remain secure even if a device is compromised.

The heyday of the classic password seems almost over, as more and more companies are using passkeys. Recently, Microsoft, Google, Meta and Apple have introduced the use of passkeys that allow them to ignore “normal” passwords. This is not surprising, as passwords have long been proven to be imperfect. Passkeys, on the other hand, consist of two login keys: a public and a private one. These are generated in an authenticator, for example that of Google.

Microsoft plans to roll out these new features to Windows 11 users in the near future, with early access through the Windows Insider program. It has not yet been communicated when it will be Europe’s turn.