1Password You can sign in with just a fingerprint or face scan, without remembering, typing, or pasting a password. That is what a passkey makes possible. Apple, Google, and Microsoft all support it on their platforms, and a growing number of websites and apps do too.
The password manager 1Password supports creating, saving, signing in with, and sharing passkeys. Based on 1Password’s official product and support pages, this article summarizes passkeys from the basics to the steps for saving, signing in, and deleting them, as well as limitations such as exporting.
Key Points of This Article
- A passkey is a login method that replaces passwords, and it works with a pair of keys: a public key (given to the site) and a private key (which never leaves your device)
- In 1Password, you can view, edit, move, and share passkeys just like other items
- With 1Password for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android, you can view, manage, and share saved passkeys
- Creating, saving, and signing in with passkeys can be done with 1Password in the browser on desktop and on devices running iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 (as stated on the official page)
- If you delete a passkey saved in 1Password, the passkey on the site is not deleted
- Exporting passkeys is currently available only in 1Password for iOS and Android
- Suggestions to save passkeys and sign in with them can be turned off in settings. Business administrators can control this with team policies
What Is a Passkey?
A passkey is a new kind of login credential that makes a password-free life possible. It is stored on a trusted device such as a smartphone, and protected by biometrics or the device PIN.
How Passkeys Work
A passkey combines two keys.
- Public key: Shared with the website or app you want to sign in to
- Private key: Never leaves your device
You can’t work out one key from the other. That is why passkeys are considered highly secure and resistant to phishing attacks. Without the passkey itself and a way to approve the device it is stored on, no one can sign in to an account protected by a passkey.
Passkeys vs. Passwords
| Item | Passkey | Password |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Strong from the start | Can be strong or weak |
| Need to remember | Nothing to think of or remember | You need to remember it unless you save or record it |
| Multi-factor authentication | Multi-factor authentication is built in | Multi-factor authentication is not built in |
| Sharing secrets | The private key is never shared with the app or site | The password is shared with the app or site |
| Theft and phishing | Very resistant to theft and phishing | May be intercepted or stolen through phishing and similar attacks |
A passkey is specific to a single website or app. That means every account always gets the best protection.
Benefits of Saving Passkeys in 1Password
The official page gives these three reasons for saving passkeys in 1Password.
You Can Sync Passkeys
1Password aims to let you use passkeys in the same way on Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android devices. The official page contrasts this with the weakness of other methods, where you can’t access your passkeys where you need them.
You Can Share Passkeys
With a shared vault, you can share passkeys with coworkers and family. If you want someone to use one only for a short time, you can also use item sharing.
You Can Manage Them with Other Information
You can manage passkeys, passwords, and other sensitive information in one secure place. Passkeys can be organized with vaults and tags.
Supported Environments
The official page lists the supported environments for each feature as follows.
| What you can do | Supported environments |
|---|---|
| Create, save, and sign in with passkeys | 1Password in the browser on desktop, and devices running iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 |
| View, manage, and share saved passkeys | 1Password for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android |
How to Save a Passkey
Here is the flow for saving a passkey using 1Password in the browser. In 1Password, you can view, edit, move, and share passkeys just like other items.
1. Find a Site That Supports Passkeys
To save a passkey, find a site in one of these two ways.
- Use Watchtower to find sites among your saved logins that support passkeys
- Create a new account on a website that supports passkeys (the official page introduces passkeys.directory)
On some sites, you must create the account with a username and password before you can create a passkey.
2. Choose to Create a Passkey
When you choose the option to create a passkey on the site, 1Password offers to save it. You can choose where to save it in one of two ways.
- If 1Password already has a login (Login item) for that site, add the passkey to the existing item and update it
- Save it as a new item
How to Sign In with a Passkey
Once you’ve saved a passkey in 1Password, 1Password signs you in with that passkey.
- Sign out of the website for now
- Go to the passkey sign-in step
- Select the “Use passkey” prompt shown at the top of the page
If you want to sign in with a different passkey, select “Other options” in the sign-in prompt and choose the passkey you want to use.
Sharing Passkeys
You can share passkeys saved in 1Password just like other items. The official page describes these two methods.
- Shared vault: Lets coworkers and family keep using the passkey
- Item sharing: Gives access for a short period only
Deleting a Passkey
Important: Deleting a passkey saved in 1Password does not delete the passkey from your account on the website or service. When you delete it in 1Password, also follow the steps on the site to delete the passkey there.
To delete a passkey in 1Password:
- In 1Password, find the login (Login) item for that passkey and select Edit
- Select the button next to the passkey field, then Save
If the login item doesn’t contain a password, you can also delete the whole item.
Limitations and Cautions to Know
Passkey Export Is Available Only on iOS and Android
Currently, passkeys can be exported only from 1Password for iOS and Android.
If you export data from 1Password on desktop, you need to create a new passkey for each website where you had saved a passkey. Then save the new passkeys elsewhere, such as in your browser’s built-in passkey manager.
When 1Password Doesn’t Offer to Save
If 1Password doesn’t offer to save a passkey on a site that should support them, contact 1Password Support. Include a link to the website where you are trying to save the passkey.
When You Want to Use a Security Key or Your Browser’s Built-in Passkey Manager
Even when 1Password offers to sign you in with a passkey, you may want to use a security key or your browser’s built-in passkey manager. In that case, select the button to use a security key or the browser’s passkey manager, which the site displays.
Turning Off Passkey Saving and Sign-in in 1Password
If you don’t want to use 1Password for saving or signing in with passkeys, you can turn the feature off.
- Open 1Password in your browser and unlock it
- From the account menu at the top left of the pop-up, select Settings
- Select Autofill & save
- Turn off “Offer to sign in with passkeys” and “Offer to save passkeys”
For Business Account Administrators
Administrators of 1Password Business can use team policies to control whether team members are allowed to save passkeys and use them to sign in in the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use a passkey or a password?
The official page positions passkeys as an easier and more secure alternative to passwords. If a site or app supports passkeys, use a passkey. On sites that don’t, you continue to use a password as before.
Can I share a passkey saved in 1Password with other people?
Yes. Use a shared vault or item sharing.
If I delete a passkey in 1Password, is the passkey on the site deleted too?
No. You need to delete the passkey on the site separately, following the site’s steps.
Can I move 1Password passkeys to another password manager?
Passkey export is currently supported in 1Password for iOS and Android. If you export from the desktop version, you need to create new passkeys for each site.
How do I stop the suggestions to save passkeys?
In the browser 1Password settings (Autofill & save), you can turn off the suggestions to save passkeys and sign in with them.
Summary | Benefits and Cautions of Managing Passkeys with 1Password
With 1Password, you can manage passkeys in the same place as your other login information, use them across devices, and share them with family or coworkers when needed. On the other hand, there are points to know in advance, such as the export limitation and the caution about deletion.
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You can manage passkeys in the same place as passwords and other information
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With 1Password for Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android, you can view, manage, and share saved passkeys
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With shared vaults and item sharing, you can share passkeys with family and coworkers
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You can organize passkeys with vaults and tags
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Watchtower helps you find sites that support passkeys
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You can turn off passkey suggestions, and choose other options such as a security key
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Passkey export is currently available only in 1Password for iOS and Android
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If you migrate from the desktop version, you need to create new passkeys for each site
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On some sites, you must register with a username and password before creating a passkey
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Deleting in 1Password leaves the passkey on the site
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The listed supported environments (such as iOS 17 / iPadOS 17) need to be checked against the latest official information
When you find a site that supports passkeys, I recommend trying it first with one low-importance account. Going through saving, signing in, and deleting once will make a full migration smoother.
