Access keys, this new authentication system which aims to be more secure and simpler than passwords, continue to become more popular. From now on, it is possible to log in to your Microsoft account using a passkey, on both computer and mobile.
Good news for online security: the Redmond firm has just announced support for passkeys, or access keys, to log in to your Microsoft account. As a reminder, access keys are a new authentication method for connecting to accounts or online services, which is intended to be more practical to use and more secure than good old passwords, compared to which it offers several advantages.
Access keys are a kind of digital proof of a user’s identity, which is stored directly in their various devices and which therefore allows them to be authenticated without having to memorize and enter a complex series of letters, of numbers and symbols at each connection. In addition, access keys are more resistant to theft by phishing techniques, because unlike passwords, they cannot be disclosed by mistake, on a fraudulent site for example, because they are not transmitted during of the connection.
This new authentication system is being adopted by more and more online services, and it is now available on one of the most widespread, the Microsoft account. And good news, the Redmond firm has published a little notice, in French, which explains in a simple way how to create, use and delete access keys. This new connection option allows you to generate an access key for each of your devices and thus connect to your Microsoft account without entering your password, using your fingerprints, face or a pin code.
How to create and use passkeys to log in to your Microsoft account?
If you wish to set up passkeys on your different devices to connect to your Microsoft account, we explain the procedure to you step-by-step. First, note that passkeys are available on computers with Windows 10 or 11, macOS Ventura or higher, Chrome OS 109 or higher, and on mobiles with at least iOS 16 or Android 9. Then, to use an access key to log in to your Microsoft account, you must use one of the following three web browsers: Edge 109 or higher, Safari 16 or higher and Chrome 109 or higher. Unfortunately, Firefox does not seem to be compatible at the moment.
Then, to generate an access key on one of your devices, follow these steps:
► On the device in question, open a web browser and go to your Microsoft account login page and authenticate using your credentials. Once logged in, go to the section Security in the pane on the left then click on the thumbnail Advanced security options.
► On the next page, click Add a new login or verification method.
► In the window that appears, click Face, fingerprint, PIN or security key.
► In the following window, select an authentication method from those offered to you (Face, Fingerprint, Confidential Code). Depending on the capabilities of your device, not all verification methods will be available to you (you must have a fingerprint reader for fingerprint authentication or a compatible camera for facial recognition authentication).
► Once your authentication method has been validated, a window asks you to give a name to the generated access key. As it is recommended to create several access keys on different devices, in order not to lose access to your account in the event of loss or theft, give it an easily identifiable name, for example using the references of your PC or smartphone.
► Once you name your passkey, it is generated and saved on your device. A message also reminds you that this access key can only be used on the device with which it was created.
► Back on the page of Advanced security options of your Microsoft account, you will find the list of your validated authentication methods and therefore the existing access key(s). It is also from this page that you can delete access keys that have become useless or unwanted, in the event of loss or theft of a device for example, using the button DELETE present under each access key.
► Subsequently, to connect to your Microsoft account using your access key, therefore without entering your password, go to the login page as in the first step, then click Other methods to connect.
► On the next page, click Face, fingerprint, PIN or security key then use the authentication method you defined when creating the access key.
The arrival of access keys to connect to your Microsoft account is very good news in terms of security and practicality. However, in the present case, each pass key generated is linked to a single device (there are other ecosystems that allow access keys to be shared between different devices). It is therefore strongly recommended to generate several on different media (computers, telephones, tablets, etc.) and to carefully keep the password for your Microsoft account in a digital safe, so as not to lose access. to his account in the event of loss or theft of the device containing the access key.