TikTok introduces Passkeys

Two years ago, TikTok announced the introduction of passkeys, aiming to enhance account security and streamline the user experience by leveraging biometric authentication. This move signaled a significant step towards more secure, passwordless logins, aligning TikTok with other major digital players in the FIDO Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting stronger authentication standards.

Passkeys replace traditional passwords with a more secure method that uses biometric data like Face ID or a fingerprint. This information is stored securely on the user's device and is not accessible by third-party apps, offering robust protection against common security threats like phishing and server leaks.

Source:

TikTok Passkeys for Login: The more secure way to log into your TikTok account_

While the initial announcement generated excitement, the practical application of passkeys within the TikTok app has evolved. In some regions, passkey creation might not be proactively suggested during sign-up or login, the process is user-initiated.

Our recent testing confirms that users who wish to enhance their account security with a passkey must navigate to their account settings to create one. The platform does not automatically prompt users to adopt this feature.

Here is a general guide to enabling your TikTok passkey:

• Navigate to your Profile in the TikTok app.

  

• Access the Settings and privacy menu.

• Select Account.

• Tap on Passkey and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.
  
  

Once a passkey is created and linked to your account, the login process becomes seamless. Users are prompted to authenticate using their device's biometric reader (Face ID or fingerprint) or a PIN, providing a faster and more secure way to access their accounts. This method is available for both iOS and Android devices, though specific requirements for the operating system version and settings like iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager apply.

The adoption of passkeys by a platform as popular as TikTok, especially among younger audiences, has the potential to significantly boost the acceptance of this technology and set a new standard for social media applications.

While the implementation requires a manual setup, the long-term security and user experience benefits are substantial. As passkeys become more common across the digital landscape, the initial friction of manual adoption is likely to decrease. It will be interesting to continue monitoring how major platforms like TikTok refine their user onboarding for security features and how this influences broader trends in digital identity verification.