Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Microsoft is making big moves towards a safer, passwordless future, and Windows 11 is at the forefront of this evolution. The latest buzz is all about passkey support, as Microsoft amps up its WebAuthn APIs to accommodate third-party providers.
Exciting News: Passkey Support Coming to Microsoft Windows 11
In a recent post on Windows Insider, Microsoft revealed some groundbreaking upgrades set to debut in future stable releases of Windows 11. One of the most significant enhancements is the introduction of passkey support for third-party authentication services within Windows 11.
This means that Windows 11 users will soon have the option to secure their logins using third-party passkey services alongside the traditional Windows passkey. By integrating these services with Windows Hello, users can streamline their login verification process.
To facilitate this transition, Microsoft has developed a plugin authentication model for passkeys and enhanced the WebAuthn APIs for the plugin authenticator.
According to the post, “Messages in WebAuthn flows will be forwarded to the plugin, and responses are returned to the WebAuthn client applications. This enables plugins to create and authenticate with passkeys when requested by the customer.”
This upgrade empowers Windows 11 users to enjoy a seamless and secure passwordless login experience. Microsoft has already been in talks with services like 1Password and Bitwarden to ensure a smooth transition for its customers. The collaboration with these services first made headlines in October when Microsoft announced the introduction of a plugin authentication model for passkeys.
Enhanced Editing Experience on OneDrive
In addition to passkey support, Microsoft is also testing a new feature with the Windows Insider build: resuming OneDrive file editing across devices.
Previously, syncing OneDrive files across different devices was easy, but maintaining the exact editing state when switching devices posed a challenge. With the latest upgrade, users can seamlessly continue editing their files across devices without any interruptions.
This feature works similarly to the “pick up where you left off” option in Microsoft Office products, allowing users to seamlessly resume their editing tasks. To utilize this feature, users simply need to stay logged in to their OneDrive accounts on their Windows 11 device and sign in on the second device while the PC is “locked.” Upon unlocking, users will receive a prompt to resume editing on their second device.
This enhancement applies to all major Office file formats, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and PDFs.
These exciting changes are part of the latest Windows 11 Insider Build 22635.4515. Users on this or higher versions in the Beta Channel can experience these new features firsthand.
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