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Will passkeys soon replace passwords?

Now we are often prompted to switch to passkeys (see Google, Microsoft, Apple, even Amazon) are we ready to throw away the old passwords completely? If not why?

Passkeys will not replace passwords — but they will steadily displace them. It will be more like evolution, not revolution.

Why passkeys won’t “force” passwords out

Backward compatibility reality

  • billions of existing systems rely on passwords
  • legacy apps, protocols, and devices will remain for years
  • enterprises move slowly for good reasons

So:

Passwords will coexist with passkeys for a long time.

Passkeys still need fallbacks

  • account recovery
  • device loss
  • cross-device access
  • emergency access

Most services keep:

  • passwords
  • recovery codes
  • email/SMS (less ideal, but real)

Passkeys reduce password use, not password existence.

Not all environments can use passkeys (yet)

  • headless systems
  • APIs and service accounts
  • offline environments
  • some admin and break-glass scenarios

Passwords (or keys/secrets) still exist there.

What passkeys will do

Remove passwords from daily use

For supported services:

  • no typing
  • no remembering
  • no reuse
  • no phishing (domain-bound)

For most users:

“I don’t know my password anymore.”

That’s already happening.

Shift passwords into the background

Passwords become:

  • setup-only
  • recovery-only
  • rarely used

Risk drops dramatically because:

  • phishing attacks fail
  • credential stuffing fails

Change password management strategy

Instead of:

  • 100 site passwords

Users manage:

  • one device unlock (PIN/biometric)
  • one account ecosystem (Apple, Google, Microsoft)
  • hardware-backed keys

For organizations: what actually changes

Near term (now - 3 years)

  • Hybrid auth:

    • passkeys where supported
    • password + MFA elsewhere

  • browser and OS-integrated passkeys

  • policy updates, not revolutions

Mid term (3 - 7 years)

  • passwordless default for users
  • passwords disabled for many accounts
  • strong device trust models

Long term (7 - 15 years)

  • Passwords mostly legacy

  • Still exist for:

    • recovery
    • compatibility
    • emergency access

Admins and privileged access

Important nuance:

  • Passkeys are great for user authentication

  • Privileged access often needs:

    • strong identity proofing
    • hardware keys
    • central control
    • auditing