Passkeys is a relatively new authentication standard designed to replace password-based authentication systems in the long run. One of the main benefits is that they put an end to phishing, as nothing can be "phished" when passkeys are used. Google recommended just this month that its customers switch to passkeys or social logins from using passwords to sign in to their accounts.

While adoption takes time, many major players have introduced passkeys support already. One of the last companies to lack support for passkeys was Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp among other online services and properties.

This changes in the coming months. Meta announced the rollout of passkeys support on Facebook this week, promising that Messenger would follow soon as well. One caveat is that Meta plans to roll out support only in its mobile applications for Android and iOS. Desktop users won't get support for passkeys at this point in time.

Mobile users may see prompts to switch to passkeys when they sign in to their accounts in the mobile Facebook application. Passkeys may also be created directly in the Accounts Center, which users may open from the settings in the Facebook application on their mobiles.

Meta notes that users may still use their passwords to sign in to their accounts, even after they set up passkeys. Another important bit is that logins with passkeys is only available on that mobile device or any other mobile device the passkeys are synced to. Desktop sign ins continue to require traditional sign-in methods such as passwords for the foreseeable future.

How to create a passkey in the Facebook application

Here are the steps required to create a new passkey on the Facebook mobile application:

1. Launch the Facebook mobile application.
2. Open the Settings once the app has started.
3. Switch to Password & Security.
4. Select Passkey on the page that opens.
5. Activate the "create passkey" button on the page.
6. Select "create passkey" in the prompt that appears.
7. Select continue and confirm the creation.

The passkey is now displayed under passkeys in the Settings. You may use it from that moment on to sign in to your Facebook account using it.

Closing Words

Passkeys support is optional at this point in time and limited to the mobile Facebook applications. That is a major drawback that may keep Facebook users who use mobile apps and the web version from switching to the new authentication standard.

Now you: what is your take on passkeys? Do you use them already for some accounts? Feel free to leave a comment down below.