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Passkeys are a replacement for knowledge-based authentication, like usernames and passwords. They use cryptographic key pairs instead of relying on human memory, which makes them more secure and user-friendly than typing in lengthy codes. Passkeys are often called “phishing-resistant” because their underlying technology makes stealing or using them fraudulently impossible.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll discuss how to enable, manage, share, and delete passkeys on all modern platforms and devices. If you’re interested in a deeper dive into how they work, you can read our detailed introduction to passkeys. For the purposes of this article, all you need to know is that they’re a very safe password alternative that lives securely on your device and in the cloud.
Apple
While the most recent releases of both macOS and iOS use the Apple Passwords App, the process for managing passkeys is slightly different between devices. We’ll also cover the steps required for managing Chrome passkeys on macOS and iOS.
iOS 18+
Enabling passkeys on iOS
First, ensure iCloud Keychain and two-factor authentication are turned on.
On your Apple device, go to Settings.
Scroll down and select Security.
Look for the Passkeys section and ensure it’s enabled.
Creating a passkey on iOS
Visit a website or open an app that supports passkeys.
When prompted to create an account or sign in, choose the option to Create a Passkey.
Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode
Your passkey will be automatically saved to the Apple Passwords app and iCloud Keychain.
Viewing, managing, and deleting passkeys on iOS
From your home screen, open the Apple Passwords app.
Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
Select Passkeys.
You’ll see a searchable list of all your saved passkeys.
Choose any entry to view its details.
To delete a passkey, select Edit.
Tap Delete.
Confirm deletion by tapping Delete again in the prompt.
Sharing passkeys on iOS with AirDrop
Ensure the intended recipient has allowed AirDrop to receive items.
Open the Apple Passwords app
Authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
Find and select the passkey you want to share.
Select the Share icon.
Choose the Apple device or the picture of the person you want to share with.
The recipient confirms by selecting Accept.
Sharing passkeys on iOS with a Shared Group
From your home screen, open the Apple Passwords app.
Select New Group under Shared Groups.
Name the group, then select Add People.
Enter the name, email, or phone number for the person or people you want to add, then select Add.
Tap Create.
Choose the passkeys you want to share with the group, then select Move.
You may send a notification to the group members, and they can view the invitation on their Passwords app in Group Invitations.
macOS 15+
Enabling passkeys on macOS
Passkeys are enabled by default on macOS 15+.
As with iOS, iCloud Keychain and two-factor authentication must also be enabled.
To verify settings, click on the Apple menu > System settings.
Click Privacy & Security in the sidebar.
Scroll to find Passwords and Passkeys settings to review.
Creating a passkey on macOS
Visit a website or app that supports passkeys in Safari or another browser.
When prompted to create an account or sign in, choose the option to Create a Passkey.
Authenticate using Touch ID or enter your Mac’s password.
Your passkey will be automatically saved to the Apple Passwords app.
Viewing, managing, and deleting passkeys on macOS
Open the Apple Passwords app.
Authenticate using Touch ID or enter your Mac’s password.
Click on Passkeys in the sidebar.
You’ll see a list of all your saved passkeys.
Click on any entry to view its details.
To delete a passkey, click on Edit in the toolbar.
Click Delete.
Confirm deletion by clicking Delete again in the confirmation prompt.
Sharing passkeys on iOS with AirDrop
Open the Apple Passwords app
Authenticate using Touch ID or enter your Mac’s password
Click on Passkeys in the sidebar.
Find and click on the passkey you want to share
Click on the Share button in the toolbar
An AirDrop window will appear automatically.
Select the Apple device or picture of the person you want to share with.
The recipient must tap Accept to approve the receipt.
Sharing passkeys on iOS with a Shared Group
Open the Apple Passwords app.
Select File > New Shared Group.
Enter a group name.
Choose Add People.
Enter names of people you want to share with, then click Add.
Select Create.
Choose passkeys to move to the group.
Click Move.
People in the group can use your passkeys for the selected accounts.
Chrome on Mac/iOS (Google Password Manager)
While Apple’s own browsers and apps use Apple Passwords by default, Chrome uses Google’s Password Manager for storing passkeys. This is also the mechanism by which Google Password Manager syncs passkeys across platforms.
Enabling Google Password Manager on macOS/iOS
Download and install the Chrome browser from Google’s website.
Open Chrome and click on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
Click Sign in to Chrome.
Enter your Google account credentials and complete the sign-in process.
Once signed in, Chrome will use Google Password Manager automatically.
Creating a passkey in Chrome on macOS/iOS
In Chrome, visit a website that supports passkeys.
When creating an account or signing in, choose to Create a Passkey.
Chrome will prompt you to save a passkey to Google Password Manager.
Authenticate using Touch ID, Face ID, or your device PIN.
The passkey will be saved to your Google account and synced across devices (i.e., those with an associated Google account or Chrome installation).
Viewing, managing, and deleting passkeys in Chrome on macOS
Open Chrome.
Click on the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
Select Passwords and Autofill > Google Password Manager.
Authenticate using Touch ID or your device password if prompted.
In Google Password Manager, click on Settings (gear icon) in the top-left.
Scroll down and find Manage passkeys in your Chrome profile.
Click on this option to open a new tab showing all your passkeys.
Find the site for which you want to manage passkeys and click on it.
To delete a passkey, click on the three dots (⋮) next to the passkey.
Click Delete.
Confirm deletion by clicking Delete again in the confirmation prompt.
Google has integrated passkeys into its Google Password Manager, making them accessible across all devices signed into the same Google account. Cross-platform passkeys can now be created and used in other ecosystems, including Windows and Apple.
Android 9 (Pie)+
Note: Passkeys for websites and apps are enabled by default on Android. To create a passkey for your Google account, visit the associated Google support page.
Creating passkeys on Android
Visit a website or app that supports passkeys.
When prompted to create an account or log in, choose the option to Create a Passkey.
Authenticate using your fingerprint, face scan, or PIN.
The passkey will be stored in Google Password Manager and synced across devices logged into your Google account.
Viewing, managing, and deleting passkeys on Android
Open the Chrome browser on your Android device.
Tap on the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
Tap on Settings.
Tap on Password Manager.
Your saved passwords and passkeys will be displayed.
Tap on an account to view its details.
Authenticate using your fingerprint, face scan, or device PIN.
To delete a passkey, tap Delete.
Confirm the deletion by tapping Delete again.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s approach to passkeys is primarily through Windows Hello, which serves as the platform authenticator for Windows devices.
Windows 11
Enabling passkeys on Windows 11
Passkeys require Windows Hello to be set up.
Click on Start > Settings.
Select Accounts > Sign-in options.
Choose from one of the Windows Hello options (PIN, biometric, or facial recognition).
Creating a passkey on Windows 11
Visit a website that supports passkeys in your browser.
When prompted to create an account or sign in, choose the option to Create a Passkey.
Windows will display a Windows Hello prompt.
Verify yourself using your PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition.
The passkey will be saved to Windows Hello and synced to your Microsoft account.
Viewing, managing, and deleting passkeys on Windows 11
Click on Start > Passkeys.
Got to Accounts > Passkeys.
Alternatively, search for “Passkey settings” in the search bar.
You’ll see a list of websites for which you have passkeys saved.
Click on a website to see all stored passkeys for that site.
To delete a passkey, click the three dots (...) next to it.
Select Delete passkey.
Confirm by clicking Delete again.
Best practices for passkey management
Enable cloud synchronization: Keep iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager enabled to ensure your passkeys are synced across all your devices.
Review passkeys regularly: Periodically check your stored passkeys and remove any for accounts you no longer use or websites you no longer visit.
Set up recovery methods: Configure trusted recovery methods (such as backup phone numbers or alternative authentication methods) to regain access if you lose your primary device.
Keep devices updated: Regularly update your operating systems to ensure you have the latest security features and passkey compatibility improvements.
Consider cross-platform compatibility: If you use multiple platforms (e.g., Windows and iOS), consider which passkey provider offers the best cross-platform experience for your needs.
Managing passkeys is becoming increasingly streamlined across the major platforms. While each ecosystem has its own quirks, the overall experience is quickly moving toward greater interoperability and user-friendly interaction. To learn more about the technology behind passkeys, read our deep-dive introduction perfect for beginners.
