- Microsoft is improving passkey support in Windows 11
- Windows Hello can log you in using passkeys stored in 1Password
- Passwords make logging in quick and easy
Microsoft has added native support for 1Password passkeys in the November 2025 Windows security update.
Users will now be able to choose between Microsoft Password Manager and third-party options, such as 1Password, to log into any app or service using passkeys.
Microsoft said that in future updates there will be support for more of the best password managers.
Microsoft’s passwordless future
Microsoft has been pushing for users to switch from passwords to passcodes in recent years. Microsoft initially announced passkey support in Windows 11 in late 2024 as part of Windows Hello.
Around the same time, Microsoft began “pushing” users to set up passcodes for Microsoft accounts, before making it a mandatory requirement for all new Microsoft accounts in May 2025.
To diversify the options available to users, Microsoft partnered with 1Password and introduced a Credential Manager API plugin for passkey usage and synchronization, allowing 1Password to function at the same level as Microsoft’s native password manager.
This direction aligns with recent changes from Microsoft. They recently phased out password storage from Microsoft’s authenticator app in favor of passkeys, before getting rid of passwords entirely.
Access keys are digital credentials that are based on public key cryptography. The private key is stored on your local device and the public key is used by the services you want to log into. When you use a passkey to log in, the service sends a cryptographic challenge to your device to which your private key responds, but only after verifying your identity using biometrics or a PIN.
This makes passcodes highly resistant to phishing attacks and credential leaks, as threat actors will need to be in possession of your device and your biometric/PIN information in order to verify a login attempt. Passwords also make logging in much easier and prevent problems like password fatigue.
Love it or hate it, passwords are here to stay.
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