What is "Pairing" With a Passkey?

What is "Pairing" With a Passkey?#

"Pairing" with a passkey is a secure process that enables the transfer of a passkey from one device to another (cross-device authentication). This typically involves two key steps: First, the source device displays a QR code, which the destination device scans to initiate the transfer. To prevent unauthorized access, a Bluetooth proximity check is conducted to ensure both devices are close to each other, adding an additional layer of security.

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Understanding Passkey "Pairing" in Detail#

The concept of "pairing" with a passkey is crucial in modern authentication systems, particularly in scenarios where a user needs to transfer their credentials securely from one device to another. This process leverages both QR code scanning and Bluetooth proximity checks to ensure that the transfer is both seamless and secure.

How It Works:#

1. QR Code Scanning:

   • The device currently holding the passkey generates a unique QR code.
   • This QR code contains encrypted information necessary for transferring the passkey.
   • The second device scans this QR code to initiate the passkey transfer.

2. Bluetooth Proximity Check:

   • After the QR code is scanned, both devices perform a Bluetooth proximity check.
   • This step is critical to ensure that the devices are physically close to each other, which prevents remote attacks or unauthorized access.
   • The proximity check acts as a secondary verification step to ensure that the transfer is intended and secure.

Why Is Pairing with a Passkey Important?#

• Security: The combination of QR code scanning and Bluetooth proximity checks makes the passkey transfer process highly secure, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
• User Experience: Despite the technical processes involved, pairing is designed to be user-friendly, allowing users to transfer their credentials with minimal effort.
• Cross-Device Functionality: As users increasingly operate across multiple devices, the ability to seamlessly and securely transfer passkeys between devices is essential for maintaining both security and convenience.

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About Corbado

Corbado is the Passkey Intelligence Platform for large-scale CIAM teams running consumer authentication. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: where passkeys, passwords, OTP, social login and fallback journeys succeed, stall or fail, which devices and browsers create friction, and when an OS update silently breaks login. Two products: Corbado Observe layers process mining and observability across authentication journeys. 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 →