Amazon Passkey usage reaches new high of 175 million users

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Passkey adoption is seeing a major surge

The Amazon logo on a wood-panelled wall
(Image credit: Amazon)

Having adopted passkeys as an alternative form of secure login for users 2023, Amazon says usage has now surpassed 175 million customer taking advantage of the technology.

Passkeys provide a more secure and phishing resistant alternative to passwords by requiring users to use an authenticator app to confirm their identity before being granted access to their account. This authentication is usually done using a biometric measure, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition, or by using a PIN tied to a device or security key.

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Global passkey adoption

Amazon's passkey launch was initially met with some skepticism, as two-factor authentication (2FA) remained active for accounts using passkeys, effectively eliminating the increased login speed and convenience of passkeys. However it seems Amazon has successfully ironed out the kinks since then, and has even rolled out passkeys for AWS and Audible accounts.

Users looking to set up a passkey for themselves can do so in the Amazon account settings by navigating to Login & Security, and then clicking the ‘Set Up’ button next to Passkey.

Passkeys have been quickly adopted across a range of industries, with Microsoft recently offering passkey support for its Advanced Protection Program, and a string of password managers introducing the feature as standard on their platforms.

Moreover, the FIDO Alliance has released a draft set of specifications to make it possible for passkeys to be transferred between credential management providers, allowing for enhanced security and choice for users looking to migrate between solutions.

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Benedict Collins
Benedict Collins
Senior Writer, Security

Benedict is a Senior Security Writer at TechRadar Pro, where he has specialized in covering the intersection of geopolitics, cyber-warfare, and business security.

Benedict provides detailed analysis on state-sponsored threat actors, APT groups, and the protection of critical national infrastructure, with his reporting bridging the gap between technical threat intelligence and B2B security strategy.

Benedict holds an MA (Distinction) in Security, Intelligence, and Diplomacy from the University of Buckingham Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS), with his specialization providing him with a robust academic framework for deconstructing complex international conflicts and intelligence operations, and the ability to translate intricate security data into actionable insights.