Amazon Lets Sign In Via Passwordless Passkeys. How To Use Face, Fingerprint To Unlock Your Account

Unlike passwords, passkeys cannot be written down or guessed, helping to prevent the accidental sharing of a passkey via a bad or threat actor.

After WhatsApp, retail and e-commerce giant Amazon is making passwords a passé and enabling the ability to log in on its website and iOS app with passwordless passkeys. Logging in via passkeys are easier and safer, as per most tech giants and they have set a goal to make passkeys the new login standard. Amazon Android app will get the ability to sign in through passkeys soon. Passkey support is available for all Amazon customers using browsers and is gradually rolling out on the iOS Amazon Shopping app with support coming soon on the Android Amazon Shopping app, the company has announced.

"Customers can now set up passkeys in their Amazon settings, allowing them to easily use the same face, fingerprint, or PIN used to unlock their device. Passkey support is available today for all Amazon customers using browsers and is gradually rolling out on the iOS Amazon Shopping app with support coming soon on the Android Amazon Shopping app," Amazon wrote in a blog post.

What Are Passkeys

Passkeys are a new easy-to-use way to sign in to apps and websites, offering a safe and convenient alternative to passwords. Unlike passwords, they cannot be written down or guessed, helping to prevent the accidental sharing of a passkey via a bad or threat actor. When a customer uses a passkey on their device, it proves they have their device and are able to unlock it. Customers no longer need to worry about remembering unique passwords or using easy-to-guess identifiers, like names or birthdays.

Instead, a customer can use passkeys to sign in to apps and sites the same way they unlock their devices -- with a fingerprint, face scan, or lock screen PIN. And passkeys are less susceptible to phishing attacks than passwords and one-time codes in text messages, making them a more secure option for our customers.

“This is about giving customers ease-of-use and security simultaneously in their Amazon experience,” Dave Treadwell, senior vice president of ecommerce at Amazon, said in a statement.

“While passwords will still be around in the foreseeable future, this is an exciting step in the right direction. We are thrilled to be an early adopter of this new authentication method, helping to realize our vision for a more secure, passwordless internet," Treadwell added.