Passkeys have long promised to be the secure sequel we need for problematic alphanumeric passwords. Biometric security, like a fingerprint reader or facial recognition, is faster, and more secure, and means you no longer have to remember long, complicated passwords.
However, in order for them to become more mainstream, passkeys need support from the most popular online sites and services, and that adoption has been slower than expected.
Apple, Microsoft, and Google already have this option, and this week, it was finally time for retail giant Amazon to unveil what their implementation will look like. Thankfully, it is quick and easy to set up. So, here’s how to add a passkey to your Amazon account.
Getting Started With Amazon Passkeys
You can set up a passkey at Amazon.com or in the Amazon mobile app. At the time of writing this post, Amazon is still rolling out the mobile version, so here is a look at how to do it online.
- Navigate to Amazon.com (or your local version of the Amazon website).
- Hover your cursor over your name in the top right corner and click “Account”.
- Next, choose “Login and Security”
- Look for the “Passkey” option, then click the “Setup” button
- On the following screen, click “Setup” once more to create your passkey.
Depending on the device you are using, there are a number of options available to you. However, those options are not necessarily explained as well as you might think.
For instance, I wanted to use TouchID as a passkey on my MacBook Air. But none of the options presented to me said TouchID or fingerprint sensor. Instead, I had to select, “iCloud Keychain” and that prompted me to authorize TouchID for my passkey.
If you select “Phone, Tablet or Security Key” you will be greeted with a QR code that you need to scan with the camera of the device you want to use for your passkey. You can also insert a USB security key to create a passkey and authorize it on that device.
The final option would be to save a passkey to your browser profile. This works with Chrome, Edge, Brave, and other supported browsers. However, the passkey will only be saved on the device you are currently using. It will not sync between other instances.
How to Log in to Amazon With a Passkey
Once you have your passkey set up, logging in is quick and painless. When you navigate to the Amazon sign-in page, you will now see an option underneath the password box that says, “Sign in with a passkey.” All you have to do is click that button and use the passkey you set up earlier.
Passkeys: A Step in the Right Direction
Using a passkey does not necessarily replace the need for a password. However, they are more convenient and may one day remove the need for a password manager. Until then, we are caught in this squishy middle ground where both security methods co-exist.
Passkeys are convenient, but we need more mainstream adoption before they outright replace passwords. Knowing how to add a passkey to your Amazon account is one important step in that process.
