Can Passkeys Be Used on Other People's Devices?

Can Passkeys Be Used on Other People's Devices?#

Yes, passkeys stored on your device, such as a smartphone, can be used to securely log in to other nearby devices, like a borrowed laptop. The process is simple: when logging in on a borrowed device, you might see an option to scan a QR code using your phone. Bluetooth technology ensures that the borrowed device and your phone are in close proximity. Once this is validated, you can authenticate the login using biometric methods like Face ID or a fingerprint on your phone. This makes passkeys not only secure but also highly versatile, allowing for easy access across devices without compromising security.

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Passkeys offer a flexible and secure method for user authentication, even when you need to log in to a device that isn't your own. Here’s a deeper look into how this works:

How Passkeys Work Across Devices#

• QR Code and Bluetooth Pairing: When using a passkey to log in to a borrowed or nearby device, the device typically displays a QR code. Scanning this code with your smartphone check the devices' proximity via Bluetooth and enables secure communication channel.
• Biometric Authentication: Once the devices are paired, your smartphone becomes the key to access. You’ll authenticate the login using biometric methods like Face ID, Touch ID, or Windows Hello. This ensures that even if someone else tries to use your device, they can't access your accounts without your biometrics.
• Security and Convenience: This method not only enhances security by ensuring that both devices are in close proximity, but it also adds convenience. There's no need to type in complex passwords or carry hardware tokens; your smartphone and its biometrics handle everything.

Technical Implications#

• Bluetooth Security: Bluetooth is used to verify the physical proximity of the devices, which is a crucial factor in preventing unauthorized access from remote locations.
• No Passwords Involved: The use of passkeys eliminates the need for passwords, reducing the risk of phishing attacks. The combination of device proximity and biometrics adds an additional layer of security.
• Compatibility: Most modern devices support the use of passkeys, making it easier to adopt this technology across various platforms and applications.

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About Corbado

Corbado is the Passkey Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: which devices, OS versions, browsers and credential managers support passkeys, why enrollments don't turn into logins, where the WebAuthn flow fails and when an OS / browser update silently breaks login, all without replacing Okta, Auth0, Ping, Cognito or your in-house IDP. Two products: Corbado Observe layers observability for passkeys and any other login method. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in (alongside your IDP). VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →