Passkeys just got a major upgrade in Microsoft Edge

How many times have you clicked “Forgot password?” this year?

Passwords are still one of the biggest sources of frustration in business. They’re forgotten, reused, written down, reset repeatedly – and they remain one of the most common ways attackers gain access to accounts.

That’s why passkeys are such a big step forward.

Microsoft has now enabled passkey syncing across devices using your Microsoft account in Edge. It’s a small update with a big impact.

If you haven’t come across passkeys yet, they’re a password-free way to sign in. Instead of entering a string of characters, you authenticate using something built into your device – such as a fingerprint, facial recognition, or a secure PIN.

Behind the scenes, passkeys use the FIDO2 standard. This ties your login credentials directly to your device, meaning there’s no traditional password to steal, reuse, or phish. It dramatically reduces the risk of credential-based attacks.

Until recently, there was a limitation.

Passkeys were typically stored locally on a single device. If that device failed or was replaced without a backup, you could lose access to accounts tied to those passkeys. That made adoption harder for businesses.

Microsoft has now addressed this.

With the latest version of Edge, passkeys can be securely stored and synchronised in the cloud via your Microsoft account, protected by encryption and additional verification through Microsoft Password Manager.

The benefit is simple:

Sign in to a new Windows 11 device with your Microsoft account and your passkeys follow you. No rebuild, no account recovery process, no disruption.

Importantly, synced passkeys remain encrypted. Microsoft applies multiple layers of protection, making them just as secure as device-only storage, but far more practical for modern, multi-device working.

For businesses, the advantages are clear:

• Fewer password resets

• Reduced phishing risk

• Less password reuse

• Lower helpdesk volume

• A smoother sign-in experience for staff

Passkeys are already rolling out across Windows 11, with broader cross-platform support continuing to expand.

The next time Edge offers to save a login as a passkey, it’s worth considering. It’s a meaningful shift away from traditional passwords and towards stronger, simpler security.