What are the technical requirements to support passkeys?

Implementing passkeys requires compliance with FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards to enable secure, passwordless authentication. Below are the key technical prerequisites for supporting passkeys in web and mobile applications.

• Passkeys are built on WebAuthn (Web Authentication API) and require browsers, servers, and authenticators that comply with the FIDO2 standard.
• Ensure your authentication system can generate, store, and validate public key credentials.

• Major browsers support WebAuthn, including:
  • Google Chrome (desktop & mobile)
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Apple Safari (macOS & iOS)
  • Mozilla Firefox
• Operating systems must allow biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello) or hardware security keys (e.g., YubiKeys).

• Passkey Registration & Storage:
  • Store public keys securely in your database while the private key remains on the user’s device.
• Authentication Flow:
  • Implement WebAuthn authentication requests that verify user identity through the stored public key.
• Relying Party Configuration:
  • Set up a Relying Party ID (RP ID) that matches your website’s domain to prevent phishing attacks.

• Devices should support device-bound or synced passkeys:
  • Device-bound passkeys (stored locally on hardware security keys or biometric-enabled devices).
  • Synced passkeys (cloud-synced across devices via Apple iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, etc.).

• Implement a user-friendly passkey enrollment and authentication flow.
• Provide clear instructions on how users can register, use, and recover passkeys.

To support passkeys, ensure your authentication system integrates WebAuthn, supports FIDO2-compliant authenticators, and provides a smooth user experience across devices and browsers. Passkeys enhance security, eliminate phishing risks, and offer seamless authentication—making them essential for modern web and mobile applications.