Microsoft Makes Passwordless Sign-In the Default for New Accounts
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password. The push centers on passkeys, a FIDO standards based, phishing resistant method that can use a face, fingerprint, or PIN on su...
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In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password.
The push centers on passkeys, a FIDO standards based, phishing resistant method that can use a face, fingerprint, or PIN on supported apps and websites [13].
Microsoft’s security case is that passwords are exposed to phishing, brute force attacks, and credential stuffing, while passkeys are meant to reduce those risks and make sign in easier [5][13].
Microsoft Makes New Accounts Passwordless by DefaultAI-generated editorial illustration of Microsoft’s shift from password sign-ins to passkeys.
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Create a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: Microsoft Makes New Accounts Passwordless by Default. Article summary: Microsoft made new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default in May 2025, so new users are guided to passkeys and other passwordless sign in options instead of creating a password.. Topic tags: microsoft, passkeys, passwordless, cybersecurity, authentication. Reference image context from search candidates: Reference image 1: visual subject "# Microsoft’s new “passwordless by default” is great but comes at a cost. The move is part of an industry-wide push for users to adopt passkeys. Microsoft says it’s making password" source context "Microsoft's new “passwordless by default” is great but comes at a cost" Reference image 2: visual subject "Microsoft has announced that all new Microsoft accounts will be "passwordless by default" to secure them aga
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Microsoft’s move away from passwords has shifted from an optional security feature to the default path for new account creation. In a May 1, 2025 passkeys update, Microsoft said brand-new Microsoft accounts are now “passwordless by default,” giving new users passwordless sign-in options without requiring them to enroll a traditional password .
What changed
Microsoft is changing the default behavior of account setup, not just adding another sign-in button. New users are offered several passwordless ways to sign in, and Microsoft says they “never need to enroll a password” when creating a new account .
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What is the short answer to "Microsoft Makes Passwordless Sign-In the Default for New Accounts"?
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password.
What are the key points to validate first?
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password. The push centers on passkeys, a FIDO standards based, phishing resistant method that can use a face, fingerprint, or PIN on supported apps and websites [13].
What should I do next in practice?
Microsoft’s security case is that passwords are exposed to phishing, brute force attacks, and credential stuffing, while passkeys are meant to reduce those risks and make sign in easier [5][13].
Microsoft Makes Passwordless Sign-In the Default for New Accounts
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password. The push centers on passkeys, a FIDO standards based, phishing resistant method that can use a face, fingerprint, or PIN on su...
Published byEdited with GPT-5.5Images generated with GPT Image 2
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password.
The push centers on passkeys, a FIDO standards based, phishing resistant method that can use a face, fingerprint, or PIN on supported apps and websites [13].
Microsoft’s security case is that passwords are exposed to phishing, brute force attacks, and credential stuffing, while passkeys are meant to reduce those risks and make sign in easier [5][13].
Microsoft Makes New Accounts Passwordless by DefaultAI-generated editorial illustration of Microsoft’s shift from password sign-ins to passkeys.
AI Prompt
Create a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: Microsoft Makes New Accounts Passwordless by Default. Article summary: Microsoft made new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default in May 2025, so new users are guided to passkeys and other passwordless sign in options instead of creating a password.. Topic tags: microsoft, passkeys, passwordless, cybersecurity, authentication. Reference image context from search candidates: Reference image 1: visual subject "# Microsoft’s new “passwordless by default” is great but comes at a cost. The move is part of an industry-wide push for users to adopt passkeys. Microsoft says it’s making password" source context "Microsoft's new “passwordless by default” is great but comes at a cost" Reference image 2: visual subject "Microsoft has announced that all new Microsoft accounts will be "passwordless by default" to secure them aga
openai.com
Microsoft’s move away from passwords has shifted from an optional security feature to the default path for new account creation. In a May 1, 2025 passkeys update, Microsoft said brand-new Microsoft accounts are now “passwordless by default,” giving new users passwordless sign-in options without requiring them to enroll a traditional password .
What changed
Microsoft is changing the default behavior of account setup, not just adding another sign-in button. New users are offered several passwordless ways to sign in, and Microsoft says they “never need to enroll a password” when creating a new account .
Studio Global AI
Continue your research
This page includes a source-backed answer you can continue inside Studio Global.
What is the short answer to "Microsoft Makes Passwordless Sign-In the Default for New Accounts"?
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password.
What are the key points to validate first?
In May 2025, Microsoft made brand new Microsoft accounts passwordless by default: new users can sign in with passkeys and other passwordless methods without enrolling a traditional password. The push centers on passkeys, a FIDO standards based, phishing resistant method that can use a face, fingerprint, or PIN on supported apps and websites [13].
What should I do next in practice?
Microsoft’s security case is that passwords are exposed to phishing, brute force attacks, and credential stuffing, while passkeys are meant to reduce those risks and make sign in easier [5][13].
The change follows a broader redesign of Microsoft’s sign-in and sign-up experience. BleepingComputer reported that Microsoft began rolling out updated web and mobile flows in March 2025, optimized for passwordless and passkey-first authentication .
The practical effect is simple: for new Microsoft accounts, passwords are no longer the starting point.
How passkeys fit into Microsoft’s plan
Passkeys are the center of Microsoft’s passwordless push. Microsoft describes them as a standards-based, phishing-resistant authentication method developed with the FIDO Alliance and platform partners to replace passwords .
Instead of typing a reusable password, a user can sign in to a supported app or website with a passkey using a face, fingerprint, or PIN . Some coverage describes passkeys as WebAuthn-based credentials that use public-private key cryptography, with the private key stored on the user’s device .
Depending on the device and service, Microsoft’s passwordless options can include passkeys, Windows Hello-style biometric or PIN sign-in, the Microsoft Authenticator app, and physical security keys .
What it means for existing Microsoft account users
The announcement does not mean every existing Microsoft account immediately loses password sign-in. Microsoft and related coverage frame the default change around brand-new or newly created Microsoft accounts .
Existing users can still move in the same direction. Microsoft says users can visit account settings to delete their password, and the company is encouraging broader adoption of passkeys where supported .
The main caveat is compatibility. Microsoft describes passkeys as a sign-in method for supported apps and websites, so users should make sure they have reliable passkey access and recovery options before removing an existing password .
Why Microsoft wants passwords to stop being the default
Microsoft’s security argument is that passwords are a common weak point. The company’s announcement was framed around reducing password-based attacks such as phishing, brute-force attacks, and credential stuffing .
Passkeys are designed to be phishing-resistant because they replace the shared password model with device-based authentication on supported services . Microsoft is also pitching the change as easier for users: RCPmag reported Microsoft’s claim that passkey sign-ins succeed about 98% of the time, compared with about 32% for password sign-ins .
What users should expect next
For new Microsoft accounts, expect the sign-up process to steer you toward passwordless sign-in first. For existing accounts, the change is more of an invitation than an automatic lockout: add a passkey, confirm your recovery methods, and only then consider deleting the password from account settings .
The direction is clear. Microsoft is not merely supporting passkeys as an alternative to passwords; it is making passwordless authentication the default route for new account sign-ins .
The change follows a broader redesign of Microsoft’s sign-in and sign-up experience. BleepingComputer reported that Microsoft began rolling out updated web and mobile flows in March 2025, optimized for passwordless and passkey-first authentication .
The practical effect is simple: for new Microsoft accounts, passwords are no longer the starting point.
How passkeys fit into Microsoft’s plan
Passkeys are the center of Microsoft’s passwordless push. Microsoft describes them as a standards-based, phishing-resistant authentication method developed with the FIDO Alliance and platform partners to replace passwords .
Instead of typing a reusable password, a user can sign in to a supported app or website with a passkey using a face, fingerprint, or PIN . Some coverage describes passkeys as WebAuthn-based credentials that use public-private key cryptography, with the private key stored on the user’s device .
Depending on the device and service, Microsoft’s passwordless options can include passkeys, Windows Hello-style biometric or PIN sign-in, the Microsoft Authenticator app, and physical security keys .
What it means for existing Microsoft account users
The announcement does not mean every existing Microsoft account immediately loses password sign-in. Microsoft and related coverage frame the default change around brand-new or newly created Microsoft accounts .
Existing users can still move in the same direction. Microsoft says users can visit account settings to delete their password, and the company is encouraging broader adoption of passkeys where supported .
The main caveat is compatibility. Microsoft describes passkeys as a sign-in method for supported apps and websites, so users should make sure they have reliable passkey access and recovery options before removing an existing password .
Why Microsoft wants passwords to stop being the default
Microsoft’s security argument is that passwords are a common weak point. The company’s announcement was framed around reducing password-based attacks such as phishing, brute-force attacks, and credential stuffing .
Passkeys are designed to be phishing-resistant because they replace the shared password model with device-based authentication on supported services . Microsoft is also pitching the change as easier for users: RCPmag reported Microsoft’s claim that passkey sign-ins succeed about 98% of the time, compared with about 32% for password sign-ins .
What users should expect next
For new Microsoft accounts, expect the sign-up process to steer you toward passwordless sign-in first. For existing accounts, the change is more of an invitation than an automatic lockout: add a passkey, confirm your recovery methods, and only then consider deleting the password from account settings .
The direction is clear. Microsoft is not merely supporting passkeys as an alternative to passwords; it is making passwordless authentication the default route for new account sign-ins .
