After I set up Hotmail passkeys can I still use the password to log in?

I am still trying to get my head around this. Am I correct that :

1) A single Hotmail account can be reached via several passkeys, from my desktop and my laptop, for example?
2) More than one passkey might be needed (because the passkey is tied to the device? I have a desktop and a laptop.)

A further question:
3) After the Microsoft August deadline, will I still be able to use my Hotmail password to access my account? If so, I would be able to use the password if something fouls up. This is top of mind for me because my computer died last month. I was moving to my new System 2 anyway and got almost everything off of it, but I didn't have replacement set up and I don't know what would have happened to my email without a password.

Many thanks to anyone who can answer any or all of these. I find so many sequential instructions confusing. I sign in to my computer with a PIN. I am planning to use a password manager (Bitwarden) because I understand that I can save passkeys in it. I Now I see that MS plans to set up some sort of relationship with 1Password. Should I use that instead?

1. Yes, you can have as many passkeys as you want (or the service supports)
2. Yes passkeys are tied to devices (computers, phones or physical passkeys such as yubi keys)
3. Depends if the service allows it

1Password: no, there is no requirement to use 1password specifically.

neemobeer said:

1. Yes, you can have as many passkeys as you want (or the service supports)
2. Yes passkeys are tied to devices (computers, phones or physical passkeys such as yubi keys)
3. Depends if the service allows it

1Password: no, there is no requirement to use 1password specifically.

Click to expand...

re #3, the service is hotmail/outlook email

Judy in Texas said:

Now I see that MS plans to set up some sort of relationship with 1Password. D

Click to expand...

What information are you referring to here? AFIK MS does not have direct relationships with any one password manager over another. For any one of them you use an addon to your browser from your browser of choice app store.

Judy in Texas said:

Does a password manager work for only one browser on a single computer?

Click to expand...

It depends on the PW manager. Every one I've seen all support the major browsers for sure, edge, chrome, firefox as well as Safari when using ios. I can not say about other browsers.

When using any password manager between different computers, an important factor is whether of not that password manager syncs between devices. (ie: a change made on one computer automatically shows up on all the others)Most of them require the user to pay for their premium application to get this feature. Regarding passkeys, yes most pw managers can deal with passkeys to different sites.

Based on an internet search Microsoft claims they will be deleting users passwords, so I would say no you won't be able to use a password

I use passkeys and have done so for quite a while now. My password manager Dashlane fully supports them and is used across multiple devices (PC, laptop, phone, tablet).

My phone uses fingerprint technology, and my desktop PC uses Windows Hello (facial recognition).

There are real benefits of becoming familiar with passkeys and start using them.

neemobeer said:

Based on an internet search Microsoft claims they will be deleting users passwords, so I would say no you won't be able to use a password

Click to expand...

So, if I have passkeys to 2 devices and I lose them in a hurricane, my email is gone?

Judy in Texas said:

So, if I have passkeys to 2 devices and I lose them in a hurricane, my email is gone?

Click to expand...

If you were in a hurricane, I'd say losing your email is the least of your worries.

Most service providers have an account recovery service, Microsoft included.

As a disaster recovery method I personally have two yubikeys with the same key material. One is kept in a fireproof safe. This works well for server-side passkeys, not so much for discoverable passkeys since they are stored locally on the passkey device.

markw51 said:

If you were in a hurricane, I'd say losing your email is the least of your worries.

Click to expand...

I have been in many hurricanes. So far I have not lost my house in one. Maybe I shouldn't do things this way, but I have lots of older stuff that matters in my email.

OK, let me explain it as to how the basics of my password manager works. It has options you can set to make it work for you. I have used Roboform for many, many, years
I install the paid version of Roboform from a download I get from Roboform and assign it a very difficult master password.(Mine is 18 characters, lower&uppercase, numbers, and symbols) I have also assigned Roboform a passkey for each machine
I then install the Roboform extension into Firefox from Firefox add-on store and enable it. It puts a little green icon at the top of Firefox.
Since I also use Edge, I install the Roboform extension from the Edge add-on store. Edge gets the same little green icon. It also puts that same little green icon in your task tray so you can set options.

Using either browser, the first time I go to any site that requires credentials (let's say it's Amazon) and log in, A Roboform popup asks me if I want to save the info into Roboform so I say yes. (It also pops up if I change any or part of my login info) It will ask me for my master password or passkey. I only have to enter this once per user session. Roboform gives you options how often you want to be required to enter this information eg: Every time, once a day, every 12 hrs, etc.
I can then close the Edge site and open Firefox. When I click on the green icon, I see credentials saved for Amazon. I can click on it, Roboform immediately goes to Amazon and logs me in automatically. I rarely use bookmarks anymore but use Roboform instead for sites that require a login.

I've used Roboform so long I have over a hundred sites with saved login information. I've even organized some of them in folders. Once you get numerous passwords entered into Roboform, it gives you options how you want to see them...most used, recent, etc or you can see all your passwords listed alphabetically.

You can also login to Roboform servers and get you logins so if your house burns down and takes all your computers, When you install it on a new computer you info will be there. I use it on 3 ios devices and 4 PCs. They all stay in sync.

Hope this helps. Other password managers may be a little different..

glasskuter said:

What information are you referring to here? AFIK MS does not have direct relationships with any one password manager over another.

Click to expand...

We have partnered with 1Password to bring users a seamless plugin passkey provider integration in Windows 11.

Click to expand...

Microsoft is partnering closely with 1Password, Bitwarden and others on integrating this capability to provide users with seamless third-party passkey provider integration into Windows 11. You will be able to use the same passkey on Windows 11 that you’ve created on your mobile device, and together we can raise the bar on login security with passkeys.

Click to expand...

neemobeer said:

Based on an internet search Microsoft claims they will be deleting users passwords, so I would say no you won't be able to use a password

Click to expand...

Passwords are only being deleted from Microsoft Authenticator:

After August 2025, your saved passwords will no longer be accessible in Authenticator and any generated passwords not saved will be deleted.
Changes to Microsoft Authenticator autofill

Click to expand...

Judy in Texas said:

After the Microsoft August deadline, will I still be able to use my Hotmail password to access my account?

Click to expand...

Yes.

glasskuter said:

What information are you referring to here? AFIK MS does not have direct relationships with any one password manager over another. For any one of them you use an addon to your browser from your browser of choice app store.

Click to expand...

"Starting with Windows 11 build 26120.4520 (Beta 24H2) and build 26200.5670 (Dev 25H2), Microsoft has partnered with 1Password to bring users a seamless plugin passkey provider integration in Windows 11. Setup is simple and intuitive:"

I'm not sure how this differs from what you can already do. 1Pass and other password managers already have integrations that work for things like RDP and ssh key passthru.

I use 1Password and Passkeys work smoothly. I've never had a problem.

On my Microsoft account I've opted to go passwordless. The password has been deleted. To log in I still have options. I have Windows Hello. I have a Passkey held in 1Password password manager. And I have Microsoft Authenticator.

Judy in Texas said:

Microsoft has partnered with 1Password

Click to expand...

Y'all need to read the entire article directly from 1Password. I don't think folks like us will get this integration....at least not for a very long time.
1Password has released two integrations for Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Entra ID that make it simpler for organizations to protect their employees and sensitive information. 1Password has joined the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association | 1Password

glasskuter said:

Y'all need to read the entire article directly from 1Password. I don't think folks like us will get this integration....at least not for a very long time.

Click to expand...

Passwordless Improvements​

We have partnered with 1Password to bring users a seamless plugin passkey provider integration in Windows 11.

Setup is simple and intuitive:

• Install 1Password Beta on your Windows 11 PC.
• Go to Settings > Accounts > Passkeys > Advanced options to enable the plugin credential manager.
• Toggle on support and complete user verification with Windows Hello (face, fingerprint, or PIN).
• You can now use your existing passkeys saved to the plugin credential manager or save new passkeys.

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.4520 (Beta Channel)

Click to expand...

TraderGary said:

On my Microsoft account I've opted to go passwordless. The password has been deleted. To log in I still have options. I have Windows Hello. I have a Passkey held in 1Password password manager. And I have Microsoft Authenticator.

Click to expand...

Gary, how will you sign in to a microsoft account on a new computer, once there are no passwords?

@BruceR Did you bother to read the 1Password article that detailed what customers would have availability to this.?
So far, 1Password has released two integrations for Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Entra ID that make it simpler for organizations to protect their employees and sensitive information.

Neither of those involve a normal individual user. Organizations pay big dollars for both of them...