Amazon announces passkey rollout for biometric passwordless login

Following a quiet rollout last week, Amazon has now formally announced that it supports passkeys on browsers and the iOS Amazon Shopping App. Passkeys for Android users are coming soon, but the company did not provide a timeline for when this would be.

Passkeys allow individuals to use their face, fingerprint, or PIN to sign into apps and websites without passwords. Passkeys are also more secure as they are less susceptible to phishing attacks than passwords and one-time text message codes. Using a passkey also proves the user has their device and is able to unlock it.

To set up passkeys, users should go to their browser or iOS Amazon Shopping app with the passkey update. Then they can select “your account,” go into “login & security,” and then select “set up” next to the passkey options. They will be prompted to follow a set of instructions. Once added to their account, customers can sign in with passkeys using a PIN or biometrics.

Amazon joins Microsoft, X, Google, and countless other companies adding passkey capabilities to their apps in the recent months. While the addition of passkeys is a step toward fully passwordless accounts, at this time, most companies are still retaining passwords on accounts even after adding passkeys.

Research from the FIDO Alliance shows that consumers are tired of passwords and “are excited to embrace passkey sign-ins, which enable them to simply and securely access online services and stands to turn the tide against the ongoing plague of data breaches and identity theft,” says the alliance’s executive director and CMO Andrew Shikiar.

“Seeing Amazon roll out passkeys is evidence of its commitment to its customers’ time, experiences, and security across Amazon web and mobile shopping experiences.”

Article Topics

access management  |  Amazon  |  biometrics  |  FIDO2  |  passkeys  |  passwordless authentication