If you’ve been online lately, you might have noticed something new when logging into certain websites: an invitation to create a passkey instead of entering your usual password. For freelancers juggling multiple accounts across client platforms, tools, and financial services, this could be a game changer — but only if you understand how they work and what pitfalls to avoid.
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What Are Passkeys?
Passkeys are a secure, passwordless way to log in. Instead of relying on something you remember (and can forget or have stolen), passkeys use a pair of cryptographic keys:
- Private key: Stored securely on your device and unlocked using biometrics (like Face ID, fingerprint) or a device password.
- Public key: Stored by the website to validate your identity.
This approach means websites never store your actual login secret, reducing the risk of mass data breaches. Even better, each passkey is unique to one account — making credential reuse attacks impossible.
Why Companies Are Pushing Passkeys
For years, companies have struggled with the vulnerabilities of passwords. Anyone who obtains your password can log in as you, and hackers often exploit reused or weak passwords. Passkeys combine the convenience of single sign-on with the security of two-factor authentication — but without the extra step of entering a code.
Tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung view passkeys as a means to enhance security in authentication while drawing users deeper into their own ecosystems. For freelancers, this means you’ll start seeing passkey prompts more often, especially on major platforms.
Challenges for Freelancers
While passkeys are promising, the tools for managing them are still immature. Freelancers often work across devices and operating systems, and that’s where the headaches begin:
- Cross-platform limitations: Apple, Google, and Microsoft each have their own storage systems and biometric methods, making sharing passkeys between ecosystems tricky.
- Device syncing issues: If you use defaults, you might end up with multiple passkeys stored in different places on different devices.
- No naming conventions: Some tools don’t let you label passkeys, so managing or deleting them is a hassle.
- Shared account complexity: Unlike passwords, passkeys aren’t easily shared between people, making joint logins harder.
How to Get Started with Passkeys
If you want to try passkeys, the first step is to choose a single password manager or authentication tool that works across all your devices. If you only use one vendor’s tools, the built-in options (like iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager) may be enough. But for cross-platform work, consider third-party managers like 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, Keeper, NordPass, or RoboForm.
Once you’ve chosen a manager:
- Sign in to your manager before adding any passkeys.
- Disable other tools that might try to store them automatically.
- Test with a few non-critical accounts before migrating everything.
Best Practices for Freelancers
- Secure your manager login: Use a memorable but strong passphrase, or enable biometric sign-on.
- Double-check active manager: Make sure your chosen manager is the one storing new passkeys.
- Maintain backups: Many managers allow secure backups — take advantage of them.
- Keep a fallback method: Retain passwords for now in case you need to recover access.
The Future of Passkeys
The technology is evolving fast. Within the next three to five years, passkeys are expected to replace passwords for most accounts. We can expect better interoperability, universal biometric support, and easier deletion or replacement of passkeys. For freelancers, this means logging in will become faster, safer, and less stressful.
Next Steps
Now is the perfect time to experiment with passkeys. Select your preferred password manager, disable competing tools, and start using passkeys on a few accounts. As the ecosystem matures, you’ll be ahead of the curve — enjoying more security and less hassle in your daily freelance work.
If you’ve already started using passkeys, share your experience. The more we learn from each other, the smoother the transition will be.