🪟Passkeys: About and Windows Walkthrough

This page gives a brief overview into what a Passkey is and help troubleshooting common issues with passkeys in Windows.

A passkey is a way to sign in without passwords. It utilises the security capabilities of your devices and is more secure and easier to use than both passwords and 2FA methods. For example, passkeys range from Touch or Face ID to device PIN. If you want to test whether your device can create passkeys, a great demo can be found here.

Passkey creation happens when a new user registers for an account. Passkeys can be added or changed when an authenticated user creates a new passkey for their existing account. Currently, Kinto facilitates resetting passkeys via the login page using the 'Lost your Passkey' button.

Windows Walkthrough

We know some users face challenges utilizing passkeys in Windows - the guide below offers a step-by-step guide to help.

Enter your email and click 'Authenticate with passkeys'.

A 'Create a passkey' pop-up should appear - please select 'Windows Hello or external security key'.

Please select the 'PIN' option, enter your PIN, and continue. Your PIN is usually the number you log into your machine with. Some Windows machines enable face or fingerprint sign-in; these are also recommended.

Next, you should see a screen stating 'Verify your identity' - you can now continue with the KYC process.

If you do not see a 'PIN,' 'Face', or 'Fingerprint' option in Windows Hello, please try to undertake the process in Incognito mode.

If Incognito mode does not resolve, please undertake the following steps:

Navigate to 'Start' in the menu bar - the farthest icon on the left in the above image.

Search for 'Windows Hello' and select 'Sign-in options'.

Please ensure that 'PIN (Windows Hello)' Sign in option is enabled - if it is not, please enable it.

Notes on PIN enablement:

1. If you are using a machine that does not belong to you (e.g., a work device), you cannot enable PIN without permission from your IT department. We recommend access via a personal device.

2. You may have to set up a 'Password' to enable a PIN. You will find the 'Password' option in the same menu as the 'Facial recognition,' 'Fingerprint recognition', and 'PIN' options. Please set up a 'Password' and then return to set up a 'PIN'. Once a PIN is set up, you can complete the steps above.

If you are viewing something different from the above walkthrough, please contact support via Discord.