After WhatsApp, Amazon rolling out passkey support: What is a passkey and how does it work?

Amazon has announced that it is rolling out passkey support on browsers and mobile shopping apps, offering customers an easier and safer way to sign in to their Amazon accounts. 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.

What is a Passkey?

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 with a bad 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.