Microsoft Authenticator Ends Password Support, All Users Must Now Move to Using Passkeys—PIN, Fingerprint, Facial Recognition, or Windows 11 Hello

Today, the Microsoft Authenticator app officially ended all password storage and management features. Starting August 1, 2025, users of the popular mobile authentication platform must move to passwordless methods such as passkeys—using PIN, fingerprint, facial recognition, or Windows Hello—to secure their Microsoft accounts and supported apps.

This sweeping change forms a central part of Microsoft’s multi-year effort to drive the tech industry beyond passwords, widely viewed as a major security vulnerability in the digital age. Let’s break down exactly what this means for users, why Microsoft is making this move, and how to ensure a smooth transition.

What’s Changing in Microsoft Authenticator?

• No More Password Storage: As of today, the Authenticator app will no longer store or manage any passwords. All existing saved passwords accessible through the app have now been migrated exclusively to Microsoft Edge.

• Move to Passkeys: Users are required to use stronger, more secure authentication methods—passkeys based on PIN codes, biometric data (fingerprints, facial recognition), or Windows Hello—to protect access to their accounts.

• Removal of Unsaved Passwords: Any password generated with Authenticator but not explicitly saved prior to August 1, 2025, has now been permanently deleted. Users will need to rely on their memory or Edge’s integrated password manager for recovery.

Why Is Microsoft Making This Change?

The shift away from traditional passwords reflects urgent industry concern: even in 2025, passwords are the single weakest link in digital security. Easily guessed, phished, or stolen in data breaches, they’re responsible for a majority of account takeovers and cyberattacks. Microsoft’s answer is a “passwordless future”—a goal it has publicly set and pursued through incremental product updates and educational campaigns.

Passkeys, built to the FIDO2 standard, replace traditional passwords with cryptographic credentials tied to individual devices. These credentials are almost impossible to phish, and their use is rapidly growing across leading tech platforms, from Apple and Google to financial institutions.

How Will This Affect Current Authenticator Users?

If you previously used Microsoft Authenticator to store or autofill passwords:

• Accessing Your Old Passwords: All previously saved passwords are now only available through Microsoft Edge’s password management tool. Users should open Edge, sign into their Microsoft account, and use the built-in “Passwords” feature to view and manage credentials.

• Generated but Unsaved Passwords: Any passwords generated but not saved in Edge before August 1 have been deleted and cannot be recovered.

• Authentication Moves to Passkeys: All new account sign-ins require a passkey method (PIN, biometrics, Windows Hello). If you haven’t set up one of these, there’s a short onboarding in the Authenticator app and on the Microsoft website.

Why Do Passkeys Matter – And Are They Safe?

Passkeys are a leap forward for security. Unlike passwords, passkeys:

• Exist only on your physical device—they cannot be intercepted or reused by hackers.

• Depend on device-level biometrics (fingerprint, face) or a locally stored PIN, vastly reducing phishing risk.

• Work with cloud sync for supported accounts, making them easy to recover if a device is lost (when using Microsoft, Apple, or Google account recovery).

Microsoft and other tech giants, including Apple and Google, are lobbying for wider adoption of passkeys industry-wide. This makes it far less likely for users to fall victim to credential theft through fake login screens, email scams, or routine data breaches .

How to Switch: Seamless Migration Guide

1. Update Microsoft Authenticator: Download the latest version from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).

2. Setup Passkeys:

   • Open Authenticator and follow the guided setup to register a device-based passkey (PIN, fingerprint, face scan, or Windows Hello).

   • For Windows 11 users, Windows Hello will prompt setup of your preferred method.

3. Access Past Passwords in Edge:

   • Launch Edge.

   • Go to Settings > Profiles > Passwords.

   • Sign in and confirm all previously stored passwords are present.

4. Check Device Recovery Options:

   • Ensure your Microsoft account recovery options (email, mobile) are up to date to recover passkey access if needed.

Pro tip: Turn on Edge’s cloud sync so your saved passwords and passkeys are available across devices.

A Passwordless Future

Microsoft’s move is only the latest milestone in a widespread industry effort to eliminate passwords altogether. According to Gartner, by 2026, at least 60% of global enterprises are expected to use passwordless authentication in some form. The company is expected to announce further integrations of passkey and biometric technologies across products like Office 365, Azure, Xbox, and Surface.

For Microsoft, the benefits are clear: reduced account takeovers, simpler sign-ins, and less frustration for end users. For customers, the journey requires some adjustment but pays dividends in long-term peace of mind.

Expert Tips to Stay Secure

• Regularly review your devices and remove unused ones from your Microsoft account settings.

• Keep software up to date—many new passkey features will require the latest versions of Edge and Windows.

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all critical accounts as a second layer of protection.

The end of password support in Microsoft Authenticator marks a decisive step toward the passwordless era. Users must act now to enable passkeys and check credentials in Edge, but the payoff is a dramatically safer way to access Microsoft services for years to come.

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