An Amazon Passkey is a passwordless authentication method that allows users to sign in to their Amazon accounts securely and conveniently without using traditional passwords. Instead of typing a password, users authenticate using biometric methods like fingerprint or facial recognition, a device PIN, or a swipe pattern-the same way they unlock their device
. Technically, a passkey consists of a pair of cryptographic keys:
- A private key stored securely on the user's device that never leaves it.
- A public key stored on Amazon's servers to verify the user's identity during login
This approach enhances security by making it much harder for attackers to steal credentials or perform phishing attacks since the private key is never transmitted or exposed. It also streamlines the login process, often allowing sign-in speeds up to six times faster than traditional passwords
. To set up an Amazon Passkey, users log into their Amazon account, go to "Login & Security" settings, and follow prompts to create and save the passkey, which can be stored locally or in a passkey manager for use across devices and operating systems
. In summary, an Amazon Passkey replaces passwords with a secure, biometric- based login method that improves both security and user convenience for accessing Amazon services.
