---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/faq/can-passkey-provider-store-credentials-across-devices'
title: 'Can a passkey provider store credentials across devices?'
description: 'Learn whether passkey providers can store credentials across devices and how synchronization works across different platforms.'
lang: 'en'
---

# Can a passkey provider store credentials across devices?

## Can a Passkey Provider Store Credentials Across Devices?

Yes, some **passkey providers** support storing and synchronizing credentials across
devices, but this depends on the type of provider and how the underlying **WebAuthn**
implementation works.

### Types of Passkey Providers and Cross-Device Storage

There are two primary categories of [passkey providers](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-providers):

- **First-party passkey providers** (e.g., Apple
  [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain),
  [Google Password Manager](https://www.corbado.com/blog/how-to-use-google-password-manager), Microsoft
  [Authenticator](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/authenticator)) can
  [sync passkeys across devices](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-sharing) logged into the same ecosystem.
- **Third-party passkey providers** (e.g.,
  [1Password](https://www.corbado.com/blog/1password-passkeys-best-practices-analysis),
  [Bitwarden](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-analysis-bitwarden-developer-survey-2024),
  [Dashlane](https://www.corbado.com/blog/dashlane-passkeys)) may offer their own mechanisms for syncing passkeys
  across multiple devices.

### How Passkey Synchronization Works

- **Cloud Syncing**: First-party providers like Apple and Google store passkeys in their
  cloud infrastructure (iCloud Keychain,
  [Google Password Manager](https://www.corbado.com/blog/how-to-use-google-password-manager)), enabling automatic
  synchronization across devices linked to the same account.
- **End-to-End Encryption**: Passkeys stored by major providers are **end-to-end
  encrypted**, ensuring only the user can access them.
- **Third-Party Syncing**: Some password managers integrate with **WebAuthn** and provide
  secure passkey syncing across platforms.

### Security and Limitations

- **Passkey Security**: Since passkeys eliminate traditional passwords, their secure
  storage is critical. Providers use strong encryption to prevent unauthorized access.
- **Platform Lock-In**: First-party solutions may limit cross-platform usability (e.g.,
  [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain) works best within the Apple ecosystem).
- **Manual Transfer**: Some providers may require manual export/import if automatic
  syncing is not available.

In summary, **passkeys can be stored and accessed across multiple devices**, but this
depends on the provider’s implementation. First-party ecosystems offer seamless
integration, while third-party solutions provide cross-platform flexibility.

## Read the full article