No more passwords? Facebook brings passkey login to iOS and android; what is it? How to set up?

Meta has introduced passkey on Facebook for mobile devices, providing another tool to protect users' privacy and security. It's a new way to verify identity and log in to an account that's easier and more secure than traditional passwords. Facebook said in its blog post that it will soon be available for Facebook on iOS and Android mobile devices, and they'll begin rolling out passkeys for Messenger in the coming months. It also said that once this feature is launched, the passkey you set for Facebook will work on Messenger as well.

What is a Passkey?

Passkeys are secure digital credentials that act as an alternative to passwords. They allow users to log in to websites and apps securely by verifying their identity using the fingerprint, face, or PIN they use to unlock their device.

"Once created, they make it faster and easier than ever to log in to Facebook, no memorized password needed. All you’ll need is a compatible mobile device and a Facebook account," said Facebook in its blog post.

Another benefit of passkey

According to Meta, passkeys aren’t limited to logging in to a Facebook account — they can also be used to securely autofill payment information when making purchases via Meta Pay, and eventually, to log in to Messenger and protect encrypted message backups.

How to set up passkey for Facebook login on mobile? 

- You can set up and manage your passkey in Accounts Center, found within the Settings menu on Facebook.
- You also may be prompted to set up a passkey when you log in to Facebook.

Once it’s set up, users will be able to use their passkey to log in to Facebook on their mobile device going forward. 

It should be noted that they’ll still be able to use other authentication methods, such as their password, to access their account. By this way one can access their Facebook account when they’re using a device that doesn’t support passkeys yet.