iPhone or iPad
Passkeys on iPhone and iPad
There are two ways to keep a passkey on an iPhone or iPad. Your organisation will tell you which one to use. Both need iOS 17 or later and a screen lock (Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode).
Option 1: Passkey in Microsoft Authenticator
The passkey stays on this device only. It's the usual choice for work accounts and for anyone who administers systems.
- Add your account in Authenticator Install Microsoft Authenticator. On first run, tap Add work or school account. If you already have Authenticator, tap + and choose Work or school account — or, if your account is already there, tap it and choose Create a passkey.
- Verify it's you Sign in and complete multi-factor authentication. If you were given a Temporary Access Pass, use it here.
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Turn on Authenticator as a passkey provider
When Authenticator asks, tap Settings, then:
- iOS 18 and later: Settings › General › AutoFill & Passwords
- iOS 17: Settings › Passwords › Password Options
- Finish in Authenticator Go back to Authenticator and tap Done. You'll see Passkey listed as a sign-in method for your account. Tap Done again.
Option 2: Synced passkey in Apple Passwords
The passkey is saved in Apple Passwords and syncs to your other Apple devices through iCloud, so it survives a new phone. Before you start, make sure Apple Passwords is set to keep it:
Settings › General › AutoFill & Passwords — set Set Up Codes In to Passwords.
Signing in on a laptop with your phone
When you use your phone's passkey to sign in on another computer, both devices need Bluetooth and an internet
connection turned on. Bluetooth only checks that the phone is nearby; your passkey never leaves the phone.
If something goes wrong
- "A passkey already exists" — the passkey was saved on the phone but registration didn't finish. In Authenticator, tap your account, then Settings › Delete passkey, and try again.
- No passkey option appears — check you're on iOS 17 or later and have a screen lock set.
- Still stuck? Contact your IT support team.