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SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft now lets you remove passwords from Microsoft accounts as its embraces a passwordless future.
The software giant will let consumers sign into their Microsoft accounts with its Microsoft Authenticator app, Windows Hello, a security key, or an SMS/email verification code instead of a password.
The new option arrives just months after Microsoft started rolling out passwordless authentication for commercial users in March to help people adjust to the realities of remote work.
Microsoft has been working toward a passwordless future for years, and the pandemic has only accelerated things. This is a major milestone for Microsoft’s passwordless ambitions, after the company enabled security keys in 2018 and made Windows 10 passwordless in 2019.
The process to remove your password is relatively simple. Users need to have the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app installed and linked to their personal Microsoft Account.
Once that’s complete, you can visit account.microsoft.com and choose advanced security options and then enable passwordless accounts in the additional security section.
Users will then approve the change from your Authenticator app and they will be password-free. You can always reverse the change and add a password back to your Microsoft account in the future.
The benefits of passwordless authentication are very clear. Most people create their own passwords, and it’s often a challenge to create something that’s secure and memorable without relying on a password manager.
People often reuse their passwords, too, allowing attackers to quickly log into a variety of compromised accounts after a particular organization is targeted and passwords are dumped.
Google, Apple, and others are also working toward less reliance on passwords. Google Chrome lets you sign in without a password, and Apple’s iOS 15 and macOS Monterey updates include a Passkeys in iCloud Keychain feature, an attempt to replace passwords with a more secure login process.
