🔐 Passwords vs. Passkeys: What’s Changing and Why You Should Care

If you’ve ever fumbled with a password in the checkout line or at the airport, you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of Your Tech Makeover, we talked about something that’s becoming hard to ignore: passkeys. You may have seen them pop up on your phone or computer already, and they’re only going to become more common in 2026. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this episode breaks down what’s changing in the world of logins, and why it matters to you.

Episode Summary

The episode starts by comparing passkeys to the digital key fobs many of us already use with our cars. Instead of typing a password, your device becomes the key, and you confirm your identity with Face ID, Touch ID, or a PIN. It’s a simple concept built on public and private key cryptography, but the goal is easy: fewer passwords, fewer headaches, and fewer opportunities for hackers.

We also walked through why passkeys are appealing, they’re quicker, harder to steal, and unique for every website or app. That said, I shared my own hesitation too. Even though companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are pushing passkeys fast, I haven’t fully switched myself. This episode isn’t a sales pitch; it’s a guide to understanding what’s coming, so you can move at a pace that feels right for you.

Finally, we covered what happens to your current passwords (they stay put for now), how synced passkeys work across devices, and how passkeys differ from tools you may already use, like “Sign in with Apple” or “Sign in with Google.” If you decide to try passkeys, the episode ends with a simple checklist to help you get started safely.

Key Takeaways

• 🔐 Passkeys replace typing passwords by letting your device authenticate you with Face ID, Touch ID, or a PIN.
• ⚡ They’re more secure because each website gets its own key pair and your private key is never shared with websites.
• 📱 Syncing is encrypted and protected, meaning your passkeys follow you across devices in a safe way.
• 🧭 You don’t need to switch everything today — start with a few accounts if you want to see how it works.
• 🛡 Keep your password manager and 2FA during this transition, especially for sites that don’t support passkeys yet.

Links & Resources

🎧 Listen to the full episode:
YourTechMakeover.com

Mentioned in this episode:

• iCloud Keychain
• Google Password Manager
• Windows Hello
• Face ID / Touch ID
• Third-party password managers (with passkey support)
• Single Sign-On (Google, Apple)

Call to Action

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Thanks for reading!