---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/faq/why-synced-passkeys-benefits'
title: 'Why were synced passkeys introduced & what are benefits?'
description: 'Synced passkeys were introduced to improve accessibility, user experience, and account recovery while maintaining strong security across devices.'
lang: 'en'
---

# Why were synced passkeys introduced & what are benefits?

## Why Were Synced Passkeys Introduced?

Synced passkeys, also known as **multi-device passkeys**, were introduced to solve some of
the **usability challenges** associated with traditional
[device-bound passkeys](https://www.corbado.com/faq/are-passkeys-device-specific). While **device-bound
passkeys** offer strong security by restricting authentication to a single device, they
come with significant drawbacks, such as **lack of portability** and **potential account
lockout** if a device is lost or replaced.

To address these limitations, **cloud-synced passkeys** were developed, allowing passkeys
to be stored and retrieved across multiple devices using secure cloud synchronization
services like **Apple iCloud Keychain**, **Google Password Manager**, and other
platform-specific solutions.

## What Are the Benefits of Synced Passkeys?

### 1. Seamless Multi-Device Authentication

- Users can access their accounts **from multiple devices** without having to manually
  register a new passkey for each one.
- If a user signs in on a new device, their passkeys are **automatically available**,
  making authentication effortless.

[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Pc4Gl0xKc)

### 2. No Risk of Losing Access

- One of the biggest limitations of **device-bound passkeys** is that if the device is
  lost, the passkey is gone.
- With **synced passkeys**, credentials are **backed up to the cloud**, ensuring users can
  recover their authentication keys if they switch or lose their device.

### 3. Improved User Experience

- Synced passkeys **eliminate friction** in authentication flows by removing the need for
  users to manually transfer or recreate credentials.
- This is especially beneficial in **consumer-facing applications** where ease of use
  directly impacts adoption rates.

### 4. No Additional Hardware Required

- Unlike traditional FIDO security keys (e.g., [YubiKeys](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/yubikey)), synced
  passkeys do not require the user to carry around **dedicated authentication hardware**.
- Passkeys are stored within **built-in security modules** on modern devices, such as:
    - **Secure Enclave** (Apple)
    - **Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)**
      ([Android](https://www.corbado.com/blog/how-to-enable-passkeys-android))
    - **Trusted Platform Module (TPM)** (Windows)

### 5. Strong Security with Cloud Convenience

- While **synced passkeys rely on cloud storage**, they still offer **high security** due
  to [end-to-end encryption](https://www.corbado.com/faq/end-to-end-encryption-passkey-sync).
- The private key never leaves the user’s device **in an unencrypted format**, ensuring
  that even cloud providers cannot access authentication credentials.

### 6. Compatibility Across Platforms

- Synced passkeys work across **multiple operating systems and devices**, making
  authentication **more universal** and reducing reliance on passwords.

## Are There Any Drawbacks?

- **Cloud dependency:** Since passkeys are stored in the cloud, a compromised cloud
  account **could pose a security risk** if additional safeguards (e.g., multi-factor
  authentication) are not in place.
- **Platform limitations:** Not all ecosystems support **full interoperability**, meaning
  some platforms (e.g., Windows) may require third-party password managers to sync
  passkeys.

## Conclusion

Synced passkeys were introduced to **address the usability gaps** of traditional
[device-bound passkeys](https://www.corbado.com/faq/are-passkeys-device-specific) while **maintaining strong
security**. By enabling **multi-device authentication, cloud backups, and seamless user
experience**, they significantly reduce friction in
[passwordless authentication](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/passwordless-authentication), making passkeys a
**viable replacement for passwords** across a wide range of applications.

## Read the full article