---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/faq/device-does-not-support-bluetooth-or-qr-codes'
title: 'What if my device does not support Bluetooth or QR codes?'
description: 'If a device lacks Bluetooth or QR code support, users can still authenticate with passkeys using alternative methods like synced passkeys or hardware security keys.'
lang: 'en'
keywords: 'no Bluetooth support, no QR code scanner'
---

# What if my device does not support Bluetooth or QR codes?

## What if My Device Does Not Support Bluetooth or QR Codes?

Passkeys can leverage **hybrid transport methods**, such as **Bluetooth (caBLE) and QR
codes**, for cross-device authentication. However, if your device does not support either,
you still have several options for secure authentication.

## Alternative Authentication Methods

If your device lacks Bluetooth or a QR scanner, you can use one of these alternative
methods:

- **Synced Passkeys**: If your passkeys are stored in a cloud service (e.g.,
  [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain),
  [Google Password Manager](https://www.corbado.com/blog/how-to-use-google-password-manager)), they will be
  available across all your devices logged into the same account.
- **Hardware Security Keys**: Devices that do not support passkey transport via Bluetooth
  or QR codes can authenticate using [FIDO2](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/fido2)-compliant
  [hardware security keys](https://www.corbado.com/blog/best-fido2-hardware-security-keys), such as **YubiKeys or
  Titan Security Keys**.
- **Platform-Specific Authentication**: If your device supports WebAuthn but lacks
  Bluetooth or a camera, you can use
  [biometric authentication](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-biometric-authentication) methods like
  **Windows Hello, Face ID, or Touch ID**.
- **Manual Credential Transfer**: Some organizations provide a manual fallback method to
  transfer authentication information securely between devices.

## Best Practices for Seamless Authentication

If you frequently encounter passkey authentication issues due to missing Bluetooth or QR
support:

- **Enable cloud sync** for passkeys within your ecosystem (Apple, Google, Microsoft).
- **Keep a backup authentication method**, such as a hardware
  [security key](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/security-key).
- **Ensure your WebAuthn settings allow for multiple authenticators**, so you are not
  locked out if a single method fails.

While **hybrid transport (QR codes and Bluetooth proximity checks)** enhance security and
usability, WebAuthn ensures that users can still authenticate even if their device lacks
these features.

## Read the full article