- Microsoft is improving access key support in Windows 11
- Windows Hello can sign in with passkeys stored in 1Password
- Access keys make logging in quick and easy
Microsoft added native support for 1Password passwords in the Windows November 2025 Security Update.
Users will now be able to choose between Microsoft Password Manager and third-party options such as 1Password to log into any app or service using access keys.
Support for more of the top password managers will come in future updates, Microsoft said.
Microsoft’s future without a password
Microsoft has been pushing users to switch from passwords to access keys over the past few years. Microsoft originally announced Windows 11 support for access keys in late 2024 as part of Windows Hello.
Around the same time, Microsoft began “pushing” users to set up access keys for Microsoft accounts before it became a mandatory requirement for all new Microsoft accounts in May 2025.
To diversify the options available to users, Microsoft partnered with 1Password and introduced a credential manager API plugin for access key usage and synchronization, allowing 1Password to function at the same level as Microsoft’s native password manager.
This direction is consistent with Microsoft’s recent changes. They recently phased out password storage from Microsoft’s authenticator app in favor of passkeys before ditching passwords altogether.
Access keys are digital credentials that rely on public key encryption. The private key is stored on your local device and the public key is used by the services you want to sign in to. When you use an Access Key to sign in, the Service sends a cryptographic challenge to your device, which your Private Key answers, but only after verifying your identity using biometrics or a PIN.
This makes access keys highly resistant to phishing attacks and credential leaks, as threat actors need to be in possession of your device and your biometrics/PIN to verify a login attempt. Access keys also make logging in much easier and avoid problems such as password fatigue.
Love it or hate it, access keys are here to stay.
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