Passkeys, the password-free login mechanism backed by tech giants Apple, Google, Microsoft, the FIDO (Fast Identity Online) alliance, and others, will soon be supported for Android users logging in to PayPal's website.
An official blog post states that the update is being rolled out and will become "more widely available over the coming year."
Using Passkeys to Your Advantage
The introduction of passkeys on Apple iOS as a new, simple, and secure login mechanism for qualified PayPal users is the latest step the firm has taken to help consumers access their accounts and pay securely. And finally, these passkeys are available to a wider range of Google users!
According to PayPal, deployment will begin on the website rather than the app, and users will need Chrome on Android 9 or later to have access to passkeys.
You may be prompted to set up a passkey, which can be authenticated using the same biometrics or password that you use to unlock your phone, only if this feature is available for your account.
According to The Verge, passkeys are based on FIDO authentication standards and are typically cross-platform compatible. However, as PayPal demonstrates, you may have to wait for a site or service to begin implementing compatibility on every platform you use.
Several password managers or apps, including the ones built into iOS and Android, enable synchronizing passkeys across devices. There are methods to access your passkeys while you are using a device that they are not synchronized with.
What Can We Expect?
In spite of the fact that numerous major tech firms have promoted passkeys as the key to a password-free future, they are still not widely used.
While several major brands like Best Buy, Okta, Microsoft, and eBay are included on 1Password's list of supported sites and services, the website only has 38 total entries. The Verge believes it might still be difficult to completely abandon passwords even if twice as many websites supported passkeys as they do now.
Bottomline: You may still access your PayPal account using your password, even if you use a passkey since the passkey is not compatible with all devices.
Setting Up PayPal Passkey on Android
On an Android 9+ smartphone, setting up and using a PayPal passkey is a breeze.
Using the Chrome web browser on your smartphone, log in to PayPal by typing in your current credentials, such as a username and password. The "create a passkey" option will become available, along with related information about passkeys.
The passkey will be generated automatically once you are requested to verify in the same manner you normally unlock your smartphone. You may start using the passkey on platforms that support PayPal passkeys at your next login.
To learn more about PayPal passkeys, visit this link.
