According to Thurrott.com, Microsoft Edge has introduced passkey saving and syncing capabilities through its built-in password manager, though currently limited to Windows PCs. The feature allows users to create passkeys when visiting supported websites, with the credentials stored in encrypted cloud storage protected by a Microsoft Password Manager PIN. While the Edge team announced that a forthcoming plugin will enable passkey usage outside the browser, significant limitations remain including no support for Microsoft Entra accounts and no timeline for mobile device compatibility. This puts Microsoft notably behind Google Chrome, which added mobile passkey support a year ago, raising questions about Microsoft’s commitment to cross-platform passwordless authentication.
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The Enterprise Adoption Challenge
Microsoft’s decision to exclude Entra ID accounts from initial passkey syncing represents a significant strategic misstep for enterprise adoption. Businesses investing in Microsoft’s ecosystem expect seamless integration between consumer and enterprise authentication systems. This fragmentation creates confusion for users who might create passkeys on personal devices only to discover they cannot access them through their work accounts. The delay suggests Microsoft may be prioritizing consumer features over enterprise needs, despite passkeys offering substantial security benefits for business environments where phishing resistance and simplified authentication could dramatically reduce support costs and security incidents.
The Cross-Platform Credibility Gap
Microsoft’s lag in mobile passkey support reveals the company’s ongoing struggle with cross-platform consistency. While Google implemented mobile passkey synchronization a year ago, Microsoft users face an uncertain timeline for similar functionality. This creates practical problems for users who increasingly work across multiple devices—imagine creating a passkey on your Windows laptop but being unable to use it when you need to quickly access the same service on your phone. The delay undermines Microsoft’s positioning as a modern authentication provider and pushes users toward third-party password managers that already offer robust cross-platform passkey support.
Why Third-Party Managers Still Dominate
The limitations in Microsoft’s implementation highlight why dedicated password managers maintain their competitive advantage. Services like 1Password, Bitwarden, and Proton Pass offer consistent experiences across all platforms and browsers, not just within a single browser ecosystem. For users who regularly switch between Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge—or who use multiple operating systems—browser-native password managers create fragmentation rather than solving it. Additionally, third-party solutions typically offer more sophisticated sharing features, emergency access protocols, and advanced security controls that browser-based solutions rarely match, making them better long-term investments for security-conscious users.
The Broader Authentication Evolution
Microsoft’s gradual passkey rollout reflects the broader industry transition toward passwordless authentication that’s been building since the FIDO2 standard gained widespread adoption. What’s interesting is how different platforms are approaching this transition—Apple has integrated passkeys deeply into its ecosystem through iCloud Keychain, Google has focused on cross-platform consistency, while Microsoft appears to be taking a more cautious, Windows-first approach. This fragmentation in implementation strategies suggests we’re still in the early adoption phase where platform-specific advantages may temporarily outweigh user convenience, but eventually the market will demand true interoperability.
Security and User Experience Trade-offs
The PIN requirement for accessing synced passkeys introduces both security benefits and potential usability friction. While the additional authentication layer prevents unauthorized access to passkeys on new devices, it creates another credential for users to remember—somewhat ironic for a technology designed to eliminate memorized secrets. The security model assumes users will choose strong, unique PINs, but password reuse remains a persistent problem in authentication systems. Microsoft’s approach reflects the delicate balance between security and convenience that all passwordless implementations must navigate, particularly when syncing sensitive credentials across multiple devices and platforms.
