Question
What is a synced passkey?
Answer
Synced passkeys are securely stored in a cloud-based password manager and synchronized across a user's trusted devices. Unlike device-bound passkeys, synced passkeys can be used from multiple devices within the same ecosystem, making them convenient for users who regularly work across computers, tablets, and smartphones. For example, if you create a passkey on your phone, you may also be able to use it on your tablet or computer because the passkey is securely shared between those devices through your device's cloud account.
Types of Synced Passkeys include:
- Apple iCloud Keychain: An iCloud Keychain passkey is a synced passkey securely stored in a user's iCloud Keychain and synchronized across their trusted Apple devices. This allows users to sign in without a password using a passkey available on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Because the passkey is synced through iCloud, it can be accessed on multiple devices while remaining protected by Apple's security and encryption technologies.
- Google Password Manager: A Google Password Manager passkey is a synced passkey that is securely stored in a user's Google Account and synchronized across signed-in devices. This allows users to sign in without a password using passkeys available on Android devices and supported Chrome browsers. Because the passkey is synced through Google Password Manager, users can access it from multiple devices while benefiting from strong security protections built into their Google Account.
- Microsoft Passkey Synchronization: A Microsoft-synced passkey is securely stored in a user's Microsoft account and synchronized across supported devices and Microsoft services. This enables users to sign in without a password using a passkey that is available wherever they are signed in with their Microsoft account. Because the passkey is synchronized through Microsoft's cloud services, users can access it across multiple devices while maintaining a secure and convenient sign-in experience.
Synced passkeys can also be stored in third-party passkey providers/password managers such as Bitwarden, Keeper, and other FIDO-compliant passkey providers that support syncing.
Learn how to set up a synced passkey.