A passkey is a quicker, more secure way to log in without typing a password. Instead of remembering a password, you unlock it the same way you already unlock your phone or password manager (i.e. with your face, fingerprint, or screen lock). But underneath, a passkey works quite differently, and it's a lot harder for anyone else to get hold of.
A passkey is like biometrics, but more secure
Standard biometric login (like a fingerprint or face scan) usually unlocks something that's stored on your phone, such as a saved password. If someone ever managed to get that stored password, they could use it on another device.
A passkey works differently. It's a pair of digital keys: one stays securely on your device and never leaves it, and the other is held by the app you're logging into. When you log in, your device proves who you are using your face, fingerprint, or screen lock, and the two keys confirm the match. Your fingerprint or face itself is never sent anywhere, and there's no password to steal.
A passkey is more resistant to scams and data breaches
- Nothing to steal. There's no password sitting on a server that could be leaked in a data breach.
- Resistant to scams. Passkeys are tied to the real app, so they can't be tricked into working on a fake copycat site or app, which helps protect you from phishing.
- Stays on your device. The key that matters most never leaves your phone.
Setting up your passkey
You can set up a passkey for the Octopus Money app using your fingerprint, face, or screen lock. For step-by-step instructions, see our guide to setting up passkey login.
Having trouble?
| If you're having trouble with… | See this article |
|---|---|
| Your passkey not saving or working generally | Trouble setting up or using your passkey? |
| Specifically on iPhone or iPad | Trouble setting up or using your passkey on iOS? |
| Specifically on Android | Trouble setting up or using your passkey on Android? |
| A work phone blocking passkey setup | Trouble setting up or using your passkey: how to fix a work-managed restriction |
| Using 1Password, Bitwarden or NordPass | Setting up a specific password manager |
| Using the app inside Samsung Secure Folder | Setting up passkeys when the app is in Secure Folder (Samsung) |
Still need help?
Email us at support@octopusmoney.com or call us on 020 3195 4455, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.