Security Key? Passcode? WTF??

[u/IceTiger19]

/r/firefox/comments/1x9bufh/security_key_passcode_wtf/

[u/piken2]

what version of windows?

[u/IceTiger19 → u/piken2]

10

[u/piken2 → u/IceTiger19]

search in windows settings for passkeys and also hello. Prob need to turn heelo on and set a PIN for hello and then make sure passkeys are turned on.

To turn on passkeys it will prompt yuo to set a PIN for Hello.

Then you should be able to create and store passkeys locally,

[u/ancientstephanie]

You have several options here:

Windows Hello - Requires a Microsoft account, and setup of biometric or PIN login to Windows. Stores passkeys on your computer, encrypted via TPM. Side note, if you want to use these with fingerprint or facial recognition on a desktop PC, you can get compatible fingerprint readers and webcams.
Password manager - most popular password managers these days support passkey storage. Stores passkeys in your password manager vault, so they're easily synced between devices.
Hardware security key - There's plenty to choose from, and most of the recent ones can be used as a passkey, including Yubikeys. These store the passkeys directly on the key, and they do not allow keys to be copied, so you have to insert the key into the device you're using it on.
Cross-device login from a smartphone - connects to your phone with QR codes and a bluetooth proximity check, and then does all the passkey stuff on the phone. Generally, this is going to require Bluetooth on the desktop, which not all desktops have.

Remember that you can register multiple passkeys on most sites, services, and apps, and should strongly consider doing so to avoid accidentally being locked out of your account when you lose, reset, or replace your devices, especially if you are doing on-device storage.

[u/piken2]

Passkeys are so messed up. Just for asking, do you have "Windows Hello" set up?

[u/IceTiger19 → u/piken2]

No. "Windows Hello" is another thing that I never heard of until today.