---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/faq/passkey-creation-vs-ongoing-passkey-usage'
title: 'What''s the difference between passkey creation & usage?'
description: 'Learn the differences between initial passkey creation and ongoing passkey usage, including their unique challenges and optimization strategies.'
lang: 'en'
keywords: 'ongoing passkey usage'
---

# What's the difference between passkey creation & usage?

## What are the main differences between passkey creation and ongoing passkey usage?

Understanding the difference between **passkey creation** and **ongoing passkey usage** is
crucial for achieving high [passkey adoption](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-adoption-business-case) rates
in any organization.

## Passkey Creation

[Passkey creation](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-creation-best-practices) refers to the initial
registration of passkeys by users. During this phase:

- Users must set up a passkey by verifying their identity, typically via biometrics or
  PIN.
- The main goal is to **securely onboard** users and ensure they complete the setup
  process.
- The focus is on making the process intuitive, frictionless, and clearly beneficial to
  the user to encourage widespread adoption.

**Challenges** include ensuring users follow through with setup and clearly communicating
the value of passkeys compared to traditional login methods.

[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hChnrAoYjR8)

## Ongoing Passkey Usage

Ongoing passkey usage refers to daily authentication using previously created passkeys.
Here, the focus shifts to:

- **Consistent usage**: Ensuring users regularly choose passkeys as their default login
  method.
- **Reducing friction**: Implementing strategies like automatic passkey prompts
  (identifier-first flows) or dedicated buttons optimized with tools like Corbado’s
  [One-Tap](https://docs.corbado.com/corbado-connect/features/one-tap-login) Passkey
  Buttons and
  [Passkey Intelligence](https://docs.corbado.com/corbado-connect/features/passkey-intelligence).
- **User reminders and fallback handling**: Continuously nudging users towards passkeys
  and gracefully handling fallback situations if passkeys are unavailable.

**Challenges** at this stage include maintaining user habits, optimizing UX to avoid
frustration (e.g., unnecessary passkey prompts), and clearly communicating the security
benefits to encourage habitual usage.

[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjGkezOy8xs)

## Summary of Differences

- **Creation** is about onboarding, initial registration, and setting user expectations.
- **Ongoing usage** is focused on habitual, frictionless daily authentication, user
  retention, and achieving high [passkey login](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-login-best-practices) rates
  over time.

Both stages are essential but require distinct strategies and optimizations to maximize
long-term [passkey adoption](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-adoption-business-case) success.

## Read the full article