Amazon has announced that it is rolling out support for passkeys in web browsers and mobile apps so customers can securely log into their Amazon accounts. The e-commerce giant is following several other tech companies in recent times by bringing access keys to its apps. WhatsApp, Google and Microsoft Windows all added password support to their products this year. As Amazon rolls out this feature, customers will no longer need to use their unique passwords to access their accounts.
The e-commerce site announced Monday that password support is now available to all Amazon customers who use browsers to access the site. The security feature will soon be rolled out to the Amazon app on iOS and will later be added to the shopping app on Android.
According to Amazon, customers can set up passkeys in Amazon Settings and use their device’s facial or fingerprint recognition, or device PIN, to securely access their Amazon accounts. “This is about simultaneously providing customers with convenience and security in their Amazon experience,” said Dave Treadwell, senior vice president of e-commerce at Amazon, in the announcement. Amazon confirmed that account passwords will not go away, and that passkeys will only serve as an alternative means of account authentication.
How to set up passcodes on Amazon
Amazon has outlined a step-by-step process for signing up for access codes. Users can go to the Amazon website in a web browser or open the iOS Amazon app with the password update, select Your accountchosen Login and securityand select the Set up option next to Passwords. Users can follow the instructions and add a password to their account, then sign in to the supported device using biometric authentication such as face or fingerprint, or the device’s lock screen PIN.
Password keys have recently become a popular, secure, and fast alternative to password-based account authentication. Unlike a password, users don’t have to remember or write down a key, so they can’t be accidentally shared or guessed. Last week, popular messaging app WhatsApp introduced passcode support on Android devices.
In June, Microsoft said it would add support for passkeys on Windows 11, allowing users to seamlessly log into a site or application using their face, fingerprint or a PIN. Google also started rolling out password support earlier this year.