Imagine signing up for a new Microsoft account, and instead of the usual “create a password with at least one uppercase letter, a number, and a special character” rigmarole, you’re prompted to set up a passkey using your fingerprint, face, or a simple PIN. No password required. That’s the reality Microsoft is rolling out for all new accounts, marking a seismic shift in how we think about securing our digital lives. As of May 2025, Microsoft has declared passwords passé, making passkeys the default for new sign-ups and rebranding World Password Day as World Passkey Day.

This isn’t just a tech flex—it’s a bold step toward a future where the frustration of forgotten passwords and the dread of phishing attacks could become relics of the past. Microsoft’s move, announced on May 1, 2025, builds on years of groundwork, from introducing Windows Hello in 2015 to allowing users to ditch passwords entirely in 2021. Now, the company is doubling down, joining tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon in a collective push to make passkeys the new standard for authentication.

If passwords are like flimsy padlocks, passkeys are like biometric vault doors. Built on the Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Alliance’s standards, passkeys use public-key cryptography to authenticate users without ever sharing sensitive data with a website or app. Instead of typing out “P@ssw0rd123,” you unlock your account with something you already use to secure your device: your face, fingerprint, or a PIN. The private key stays locked on your device, while the public key is shared with the service, making it virtually impossible for hackers to intercept or steal your credentials.

Here’s why this matters: passwords are a hacker’s playground. Microsoft reports blocking 7,000 password attacks per second in 2024, a 75% jump from the year before. Phishing scams, brute-force attacks, and credential stuffing thrive on our reliance on passwords, which are often weak, reused, or stored insecurely. Passkeys, by contrast, are phishing-resistant and device-specific, meaning even if a hacker tricks you into visiting a fake login page, they can’t do much without your physical device. Plus, they’re faster—Microsoft claims signing in with a passkey is three times quicker than typing a password and eight times faster than juggling passwords with traditional multifactor authentication (MFA).

The user experience is another win. Passkeys sync across your devices via platforms like iCloud, Google, or Microsoft’s own systems, so you don’t need to re-enroll for every new phone or laptop. Imagine signing into your Microsoft account on a Windows PC using a passkey stored on your iPhone, or logging into a web app on Chrome with a passkey from your Android device. It’s seamless, intuitive, and—dare I say it—kind of cool.

Microsoft’s not jumping on the passkey bandwagon out of nowhere. The company has been chipping away at passwords for years. Back in 2015, Windows Hello introduced biometric logins for Windows 10, letting users unlock their PCs with a face scan or fingerprint. In 2018, Microsoft added support for FIDO2 security keys, and by 2021, it let users completely remove passwords from their accounts, opting instead for the Microsoft Authenticator app, security keys, or one-time codes sent via email or SMS.

Last year, on World Password Day 2024, Microsoft rolled out passkey support for consumer accounts, allowing users to sign into apps and services using biometrics or PINs across Windows, iOS, and Android. The response was overwhelming: Microsoft now sees nearly a million passkeys registered daily, with a 98% login success rate compared to just 32% for passwords.

The latest move—making passkeys the default for new accounts—takes things to the next level. When you sign up for a new Microsoft account, you’ll verify your email with a one-time code and then set up a passkey. No password is ever created, and the sign-in process prioritizes passkeys or other passwordless methods like push notifications. Existing users can join the party by visiting their account settings to delete their password and switch to a passkey. The updated sign-in interface, which Microsoft calls a “streamlined” user experience, nudges users toward these safer options by automatically detecting and prioritizing passkeys when available.

World Passkey Day

Microsoft’s decision to rename World Password Day as World Passkey Day isn’t just symbolic—it’s a call to action. The company has joined the FIDO Alliance’s Passkey Pledge, alongside dozens of organizations, to accelerate passkey adoption over the next year. The FIDO Alliance, a coalition of tech heavyweights including Apple, Google, and Amazon, has been pushing for a passwordless future since its inception, and passkeys are its crown jewel.

The timing feels right. Over 15 billion user accounts worldwide now support passkeys, and consumer awareness is climbing. A 2024 FIDO Alliance survey found that 62% of people are aware of passkeys, with 53% having enabled them on at least one account. More than half of respondents believe passkeys are both more secure (61%) and more convenient (58%) than passwords. Big names like Amazon, PayPal, Shopify, eBay, and Uber have already adopted passkeys, and even banks—notoriously slow to embrace new tech—are starting to come around. FIDO’s Andrew Shikiar predicts that by the end of 2025, one in four of the world’s top 1,000 websites will support passkeys.

But it’s not just about tech companies. Organizations like Accenture have already seen the benefits of going passwordless. With 738,000 employees across 49 countries, Accenture ditched passwords for Microsoft Authenticator, Windows Hello, and FIDO2 security keys, resulting in faster logins, fewer failed authentications, and a stronger security posture. A Forrester study cited by Microsoft found that businesses using Azure AD (now Microsoft Entra) for passwordless authentication saw a 240% return on investment over three years, alongside a 75% drop in password reset requests.

As promising as passkeys sound, the transition won’t happen overnight. Passwords are deeply entrenched, and not every website or app supports passkeys yet. While desktop browser support is near 100%, mobile support lags at around 85%. Some industries, like banking, are still playing catch-up, and smaller businesses may lack the resources to overhaul their authentication systems.

There’s also the question of user adoption. While 38% of passkey users enable them whenever possible, others may hesitate to abandon passwords entirely, either out of habit or skepticism. Microsoft acknowledges this, noting that passwords and two-step verification will stick around for Google Accounts and other platforms for now.

Privacy concerns linger, too. Some critics, like software engineer William Brown, worry that passkeys could lock users into specific platforms, as credentials are often tied to ecosystems like Apple’s iCloud or Google’s servers. The FIDO Alliance is working on improving interoperability, so users can export passkeys across providers, but it’s a work in progress.

Then there’s the human factor. People still save passwords in plain text files labeled “My Passwords” or share logins with friends, opening the door to breaches. Passkeys reduce these risks, but they don’t eliminate the need for basic security hygiene.

If you’re signing up for a new Microsoft account, expect a passwordless experience from the get-go. You’ll verify your email, set up a passkey, and be on your way. If you’re an existing user, head to your account’s Advanced Security Options to delete your password and switch to a passkey. You can use Windows Hello on Windows 10 or 11, the Microsoft Authenticator app (iOS 17 or Android 14 and up), or a FIDO2 security key. Biometric data stays on your device, never shared with Microsoft, and you can always revert to a password if you’re not ready to make the leap.

For businesses, Microsoft’s push could be a wake-up call. Passwordless authentication isn’t just about security—it’s about saving time and money. Fewer password resets mean fewer helpdesk tickets, and stronger credentials mean fewer breaches. If you’re an IT admin, check out Microsoft Entra’s authentication methods policy to manage passkeys for your organization.

And for everyone else? Take a moment this World Passkey Day to rethink your passwords. If you’re not ready for passkeys, at least use a password manager to generate and store complex, unique passwords. Enable MFA wherever possible, and avoid reusing passwords across sites.

Microsoft’s passwordless pivot is more than a product update—it’s a cultural shift. By making passkeys the default, the company is nudging us toward a world where security is simpler, stronger, and less of a headache. It’s not perfect, and it’s not instant, but it’s a step forward. As tech giants align behind passkeys, and as consumers warm to the idea, we might just look back on passwords as quaint artifacts of a less secure era.

So, here’s to World Passkey Day 2025. May your logins be swift, your accounts secure, and your password resets a thing of the past.