Microsoft is taking another major step toward eliminating passwords. In celebration of World Password Day, the company announced that all new Microsoft accounts will now be passwordless by default. Instead of setting a traditional password, new users will be prompted to create a passkey during account setup.
In a blog post, Microsoft explained: "Brand new Microsoft accounts will now be 'passwordless by default.' New users will have several passwordless options for signing into their account and they'll never need to enroll a password." Existing users can also remove their password by visiting their account settings.
What Is a Passkey?
Passkeys allow users to log in using biometrics like facial recognition, fingerprints, or a device-specific PIN—removing the need for a password altogether. Because no password exists, there's nothing for attackers to steal or phish. Microsoft rolled out passkey support for all consumer accounts last year, enabling a more secure and user-friendly login process.
To set up a passkey, users can go to Account Settings > Security > Add a new way to sign in or verify, or use the Microsoft Authenticator app on their mobile device, which also supports sign-in approvals via push notifications.
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Microsoft concluded its announcement by declaring the beginning of the end for passwords: “Although passwords have been around for centuries, we hope their reign over our online world is ending.” The company even rebranded World Password Day as “World Passkey Day” to mark the shift.
While passwords aren’t disappearing overnight, Microsoft’s move signals a significant leap toward a more secure, password-free digital future.