Passkeys work best when your device is set up for them. Here's how to prep before you start, and how to keep things tidy once you have one.
NOTE: The passkey functionality is not yet live.
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Before You Set Up
A couple of small settings can save you a headache later.
Your browser's built in password manager needs to be switched on. Chrome and Edge each store passkeys there by default (Google Password Manager and Microsoft's own manager), and if it's off, you'll see an error when you try to set up - not because anything's wrong with your account, just because there's nowhere for the passkey to be saved yet. You can turn it on under your browser's Settings → Passwords.
If you use a separate password manager instead (1Password, Dashlane, Bitwarden, and so on), your passkey can live there. Worth checking that app's own settings too - some ask for your master password every time a passkey is used, which gets tiring fast. Most have an option to trust the device or remember you for longer between prompts.
Related: I'm on My Work Laptop and the Settings Are Greyed Out. What Now? · Where's the Easiest Place to Start? · Detailed Troubleshooting Guide
That's your company's IT policy, not something EasyEquities controls. Some organisations lock down browser and password manager settings for security reasons, which means the passkey option may not be available on that device at all.
Easiest fix: set up your passkey on a personal device instead (phone, tablet, personal laptop), and keep using your password to log in on the work machine.
Related: Is There Anything I Should Check Before I Add a Passkey? · Where's the Easiest Place to Start?
Mobile, hands down. Most phones have Face ID, Touch ID, or a screen lock ready to go, so there's nothing extra to switch on first. Set up your passkey there, then add your desktop or laptop afterwards if you'd like - you don't have to do it everywhere at once.
Related: Is There Anything I Should Check Before I Add a Passkey? · What if I Add More Devices Over Time?
Good Habits Once You're Set Up
Yes, and do it before anything else. Each device you register shows up as a separate entry, both in EasyEquities and in your password manager. Give each one a name you'll recognise later, like "Work Laptop" or "Personal Phone" - and do this in both places. Small habit, but it's what saves you from deleting the wrong one later.
Related: What if I Add More Devices Over Time? · Where's the Easiest Place to Start?
Normal, and expected. Each device generally needs its own passkey, unless your password manager syncs automatically within its own ecosystem (iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager). Same process every time: log in, follow the prompt, name it clearly.
Related: Should I Name My Passkeys? · Is There Anything I Should Check Before I Add a Passkey?
Not quite. Once your passkey's set up, it replaces the 2FA step at login - it already covers both something you have (your device) and something you are (your fingerprint, face, or PIN). Keeping 2FA on top is optional and won't cause conflicts.
Related: Should I Name My Passkeys? · What is a Passkey?
If Something Doesn't Go to Plan
This article is about setup and habits, not fixes. If you've hit an actual error, or something's misbehaving after setup, the Passkeys Troubleshooting Guide has you covered. For a refresher on what passkeys are and why we built them, see What is a Passkey?