Microsoft has announced that all new user accounts will be password-less by default. The change is part of the company’s new sign-in and sign-up process for web and mobile platforms, which went live in March 2025. Instead of traditional passwords, new users will have to select from passkeys, biometrics, or other secure authentication methods. This shift is intended to reduce reliance on passwords, which are frequently subject to breaches and phishing attacks. Microsoft introduced passwordless sign-ins with Windows Hello in 2015.
Microsoft in its latest blog post, announced that the new account users will be required to opt for passwordless options for signing up. They can access alternative ways like passkeys, facial recognition, fingerprint authentication, or security keys to login. Existing users can also delete their password in account settings and opt for these safer authentication processes.
Microsoft will detect the best available sign in method and set that as default. Once signed in, the existing users will be prompted to set up a passkey, and the next time they log into their accounts, they’ll be asked to sign in with their passkey.
Microsoft claims that this simplified way of signing in will not only fasten the process but has also reduced password use by over 20%. The passkey support for Microsoft accounts was announced last year and around a million passkeys have been set up everyday. The company has partnered with FIDO Alliance to develop passkeys authentication method removing the need for passwords.
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Existing users can create a passkey by heading to ‘Add Sign in Method’ under Security Info, select Passkey or Passkey in Microsoft Authenticator and follow the instructions. Once done, users can sign into their Microsoft account without using a password.