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Microsoft’s Passwordless account setting removes the password from a personal Microsoft account. You then approve sign-ins with Microsoft Authenticator, Windows Hello, a passkey, a FIDO2 security key, or another verification method Microsoft offers for your account. This is different from the Windows-only Hello switch and from an organization’s Microsoft Entra policy: the account feature changes authentication for supported Microsoft services, while the other controls affect particular Windows devices or managed users.
For gamers, the important practical detail is compatibility. Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S can sign in through the “Use another device” flow, but Xbox 360 and several older mail, Office, Windows and command-line clients still need a password or an app password. Set up at least two independent recovery methods before you remove the password.
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Going passwordless means deleting the password credential from a personal Microsoft account and requiring a passwordless method instead. Microsoft lists Authenticator, Outlook for Android, Windows Hello, physical security keys and verification codes among the methods that may be used after the change. The setting applies at the account level, so it can affect sign-in to supported Microsoft services rather than just one PC.
It does not guarantee that every old application can authenticate without a password. Legacy software may need an app password, and some devices cannot complete a passwordless flow at all. Treat the feature as an authentication change with compatibility work to do, not as a cosmetic option in your Windows settings.
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How is the account feature different from Windows Hello settings?
Three Microsoft controls are often confused:
- Passwordless account: removes the password from a personal Microsoft account and uses registered passwordless methods across supported services.
- Windows sign-in option: on one Windows 10 or Windows 11 device, hides the Microsoft-account password choice and presents Windows Hello face, fingerprint or PIN.
- Enterprise Windows passwordless experience: an administrator policy for specified Microsoft Entra users and managed Windows 11 devices.
Turning on the Windows option does not prove that your account, Xbox profile or older applications have become passwordless. Conversely, an account set to passwordless can still encounter a legacy client that requires an app password.
What do I need before removing my Microsoft password?
Prepare the account and every device you depend on before selecting Turn on. Microsoft recommends updating devices first.
- Install Microsoft Authenticator, or Outlook for Android where it is offered, and add the Microsoft account.
- Register a second, independent recovery method. A lost or replaced phone must not be your only route back into the account.
- Check consoles, mail programs, Office installations, cameras and other devices that send mail or use the account. Older clients may require an app password after two-step verification and passwordless mode are enabled.
- If you plan to use hardware, verify the security key’s connector, NFC capability, operating-system support and any organizational restrictions before buying it.
With two-step verification enabled, Microsoft says two recovery methods are required. Test each method while you are still signed in and can change settings easily.
How do I turn on Passwordless account?
The documented setup uses the Microsoft account security dashboard and an authenticator app.
- Install Microsoft Authenticator or Outlook for Android and complete account setup in the app.
- Sign in to the Microsoft account’s Additional security options page.
- Find Passwordless account and select Turn on.
- Complete the identity-verification prompts shown in the browser.
- Approve the final request in the authenticator app.
After approval, the account no longer has its normal password. A future sign-in asks you to use one of the registered passwordless methods. Keep the recovery devices available while you test sign-in on your browser, console and other important services.
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Which passwordless method should I use?
No method is best for every household. Compare whether it needs a second device, whether the credential is tied to one device or synchronized, how recovery works after loss, and whether older software recognizes it.
| Method | How it works | Main advantage | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Authenticator | Approves a sign-in request on a registered phone. | It is Microsoft’s documented route for enabling the account feature. | Losing or replacing the phone requires another registered method or removal of the old registration. |
| Outlook for Android | Provides an account-linked approval method in the Android app where Microsoft offers it. | Useful if Outlook is already your primary mobile account app. | Availability and prompts can vary by account. |
| Windows Hello | Uses face, fingerprint or a device PIN on a Windows computer. | Fast local sign-in without typing a password. | The credential is associated with that Windows device; it does not make every other client passwordless. |
| Passkey | Uses a secure unlock gesture on a phone, tablet, Windows Hello device, password manager or security key. | Can be stored locally or synchronized by a supported credential manager. | Moving between providers and devices depends on where the passkey was saved. |
| FIDO2 security key | A physical authenticator that can sign in directly or store a passkey. | Provides an independent recovery device that is not your phone. | Connector type, NFC, model support and organizational policy must be checked first. |
| Verification code | SMS or email code when Microsoft presents that option. | Can provide a fallback when an app or biometric is unavailable. | Availability varies by account and policy, so do not assume it will appear in every sign-in. |
A FIDO2 security key is optional hardware, not a requirement for the account feature. It is most useful when you want a separate recovery device or a passkey that does not depend on your phone.
How do I create a passkey for a personal Microsoft account?
Passkeys are another way to sign in without typing the account password. In the account dashboard, open Additional security options, choose Add a new way to sign in or verify, then select Face, Fingerprint, PIN, or Security Key.
During setup, choose where the passkey should live: a password manager, a phone or tablet, a physical security key, or the Windows device’s Windows Hello storage. At sign-in, the device asks for its secure unlock gesture rather than the Microsoft account password. Keep track of the provider you selected; that provider controls how the credential is backed up, moved or deleted.
How does passwordless sign-in work on Xbox?
Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S support passwordless Microsoft-account sign-in through the Use another device flow. Start the sign-in on the console, follow the displayed instructions on a phone or computer, and approve with your registered method when prompted.
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Xbox 360 is a compatibility exception. Microsoft lists it among devices that may still require a password, and it does not support the newer passwordless “Use another device” flow. If you still use an Xbox 360, plan for an app password or another Microsoft-supported legacy sign-in solution rather than assuming the console will accept Authenticator approval.
Which older apps and devices still require a password?
Microsoft identifies several legacy cases that do not support the account-level passwordless flow:
- Xbox 360.
- Office 2010 or earlier, and Office for Mac 2011 or earlier.
- Mail clients and devices using IMAP or POP.
- Windows 8.1, Windows 7 or earlier.
- Some Remote Desktop and Credential Manager features.
- Some command-line tools and Task Scheduler services.
After two-step verification and passwordless mode are enabled, Microsoft says older applications may need individual app passwords. Its examples include Outlook 2010, Xbox 360 and mail-sending equipment such as security cameras. An app password is a compatibility bridge for that particular legacy client; it does not restore the account’s normal interactive password.
What should I do if I lose my Authenticator phone?
Use another registered authentication method when the sign-in screen offers it. This is why independent recovery methods must be registered before enabling passwordless mode; a single phone is a single point of failure.
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If the phone is permanently lost or replaced, open Security and then Advanced security options after you regain access. Remove the old device’s authentication registration and enroll the replacement. Update recovery information promptly so future approvals do not continue going to a device you no longer control.
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If no alternative method appears
Do not repeatedly approve prompts on an untrusted device. Use the account-recovery process offered by Microsoft and be prepared for additional identity checks. Once access is restored, add a second method and test it before relying on the account again.
Can I undo passwordless mode?
Yes. Sign in to Additional security options, open Passwordless account, select Turn off, and follow the prompts to add a password back. Reversal does not remove every authenticator, passkey or security key automatically, so review the registered methods separately and keep only devices you still control.
How do I force Windows to use Hello instead of a password?
On Windows 10 or Windows 11, sign in with the Microsoft account, then open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Enable For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. Windows 10 may label the same control Require Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe next sign-in on that computer offers Windows Hello face, fingerprint or PIN instead of the password. This is a local device setting: it does not alter how the account authenticates on Xbox, a web browser or a legacy application.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the enterprise Windows passwordless experience policy?
Organizations can apply a separate Microsoft Entra policy to hide the password credential provider in specified situations. Microsoft documents requirements including Windows 11 version 22H2 with KB5030310 or later, a Microsoft Entra-joined device, an enrolled Windows Hello for Business credential or FIDO2 security key, and mobile-device management such as Intune.
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The policy targets relevant Entra users and does not apply to local accounts. It also handles the initial sign-in experience differently from the personal-account setting. Home users should not use this enterprise policy as evidence that their personal Microsoft account has been converted to passwordless mode.
How can I troubleshoot a failed passwordless sign-in?
- No approval arrives: confirm the phone has network access, open the authenticator app directly and check that the account is still registered.
- The old phone still receives prompts: remove its registration under Security > Advanced security options after signing in with another method.
- A mail client rejects every method: determine whether it uses IMAP or POP, or belongs to an older Office release. It may need an app password.
- The console cannot complete sign-in: identify the Xbox generation. Use “Use another device” on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S; Xbox 360 is a documented exception.
- A security key is not detected: check the connector or NFC path, browser and operating-system support, and any policy that blocks external authenticators.
- You are locked out: choose another registered method rather than guessing a password that no longer exists, then update recovery methods once access returns.
Why does Microsoft promote passwordless sign-in?
Passwordless authentication removes the reusable password that attackers can steal, guess or reuse. Microsoft Security Blog quoted CISO Bret Arsenault on September 15, 2021: “Hackers don’t break in, they log in.” That same 2021 post reported 579 password attacks every second, or 18 billion password attacks in a year; those figures describe Microsoft’s 2021 measurement and are not a current global rate.
The security benefit depends on protecting the replacement methods. A phone, Windows Hello device, passkey store or FIDO2 key can become the new target if it is shared, lost or left unlocked. Registering independent recovery methods and removing old devices is therefore part of the passwordless setup, not optional housekeeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I manage a passkey after creating it?
Management depends on where the passkey was saved. Locally stored Windows passkeys are handled in Windows Settings, Microsoft-account passkeys are managed from the account security dashboard, and synchronized credentials are edited in the relevant password-manager service.
Can I use a passwordless account on a computer that is offline?
A passwordless approval normally needs the registered authenticator, passkey store or security key available to that sign-in. If the device or method cannot communicate or unlock the credential, choose another registered method; do not expect an offline legacy client to authenticate with the removed account password.
Is a physical security key mandatory for Xbox passwordless sign-in?
No. Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S can use the “Use another device” flow with another registered method. A FIDO2 key is an optional independent authenticator and recovery device, while Xbox 360 remains a legacy exception.
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Add and test another recovery method, then enroll the replacement phone in Authenticator or the supported app. After confirming the new device works, remove the old phone’s registration from Security > Advanced security options.
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