PayPal has released a password-free feature known as passkeys that will help streamline and secure your account. A passkey does not require a password, instead, it requires your own lock screen (like Face ID or Touch ID or a PIN) to confirm your identity.

Practically, after creating a passkey, all you need to do to log in your PayPal on your phone or tablet is to give it a tap or a look – no typing passwords. The given modern way of logging in is compatible with Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) and Android-based phones, and it significantly minimizes the risk of phishing and password theft.

In this post, we’ll discuss what PayPal passkeys are and walk you through enabling them on iOS and Android devices.

How PayPal Passkeys Work and Why They’re More Secure Than Passwords

Passkeys are an industry standard (developed by the FIDO Alliance and W3C) that replace passwords with cryptographic identifications. With a passkey, your device creates a pair of public/private keys bound to PayPal’s website. You can get the private key via your phone’s biometric or PIN, and PayPal verifies the digital proof without your password. In other words, your face, fingerprint or device PIN unlocks the passkey on your phone, but no secret is sent to PayPal’s servers. This means a stolen database of credentials is worthless to hackers. Passkeys can only exist on your devices and cannot be written down or accidentally given to a bad actor. Because passkeys are unique to you and tied to the site’s identity, they are highly resistant to phishing or remote attacks.

PayPal approves that your biometric data is not shared with PayPal and never leaves your device when you use a passkey. They cannot log in even knowing your PayPal email without your actual phone and your fingerprint or Face ID. And even when you lose or get your mobile stolen, PayPal also allows you to log in using your PIN, or a one-time code, and you can remove the passkey of your lost device over the internet.

Why Use PayPal Passkeys?

Passkeys offer two main benefits: security and convenience. You no longer need to memorize or type a password each time. Instead, logging in can be as simple as unlocking your phone. PayPal reports that once a user creates a passkey, they won’t have to “use or manage a password again” on that device. It also makes life easier by preventing the chance of failing to log in: nearly half of all online shoppers leave carts because they forgot their passwords, which a passkey eliminates. Meanwhile, there is a significant enhancement in security. Conventional passwords can be phished, re-used and stolen. A passkey, however, cannot be phished or reused in any other place due to the fact that the secret key is not moved out of the device. The official security documentation of PayPal states that all transactions will be secured with the help of sophisticated encryption and fraud detection. In 2022, PayPal processed over 1.36 trillion of total payment volume, and account security is a priority in PayPal. The presence of a passkey is said to be two-factor authentication since you have something (a phone) and you are or know something (your fingerprint or PIN).

PayPal can still request a one-time code if you want to log in from an unfamiliar mobile, but this is simply an added layer of security beyond the passkey.

Many online gambling sites already choose PayPal because of its strong encryption and fraud protections. By enabling passkeys, mobile players gain even tighter security on every transaction. Popular casino platforms accept PayPal but require protection of user accounts. Players using mobile casinos can benefit by adding passkeys: even if a bad actor learns a login email, the account is locked behind your physical device and biometric lock.

System Requirements for Passkeys

Passkeys require relatively recent devices and software. For Apple users, you need to be using an iPhone or iPad iOS 16+ or a Mac on the macOS Ventura. It has to be either the official PayPal application or a current browser, Safari 16.1+ or Chrome 108+. Android requires Android version 9.0 or above to use the most recent PayPal application or Chrome version 108 or more. In both scenarios, a secure lock system should be already installed on your device (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint, PIN or pattern). The generation of passkeys is only possible on devices with an active screen lock since it utilizes your device unlock to generate a key. In addition, never forget to update your phone operating system and have a lock screen (biometrics or strong passcode). You are also encouraged to update the PayPal application or your browser to the most current version. When they are satisfied, you are welcome to generate and access PayPal passkey on your device.

Passkeys for Mobile Gaming Security

Financial activity inside mobile gaming apps ups the stakes compared to “regular” entertainment apps, because a compromised login can quickly turn into stolen balances, unauthorized purchases, or fraudulent withdrawals. That’s why modern platforms are moving away from passwords as the primary gatekeeper. Passwords are still widely reused, easily phished, and frequently exposed in large-scale data breaches, meaning attackers don’t always need to “hack” an account directly as they can simply try leaked credentials elsewhere or trick users into handing them over. Even when payment providers and gaming brands use encryption and monitor for suspicious activity, the weakest link is often the moment a user signs in or approves a payment. Strengthening that step matters, especially on mobile where people log in on the go, connect to public Wi-Fi, and switch between apps quickly. Passkeys improve this by making authentication device-bound and resistant to common social engineering tactics, reducing the risk of account takeovers and unauthorized payment approvals.

This means that financial activity within mobile gaming and casino apps like Casino Kwikky requires stronger safeguards than traditional password logins. Although PayPal integrates encryption and continuous fraud monitoring, password exposure through data breaches remains a global cybersecurity concern. Passkeys address this issue by binding login approval to the phone’s secure hardware and biometric verification like fingerprint, facial scan, or PIN confirmation directly on the registered device. This authentication process prevents remote access attempts, protecting balances and transaction authorizations even if account details circulate online.

How to Set Passkeys on iPhone (iOS)

In order to enable a PayPal passkey on an iPhone or iPad, you must ensure that you have satisfied the requirements (iOS 16 or higher and the PayPal application or a suitable web browser). Then follow these steps:

Prerequisites

Ensure that your phone is unlocked using Face ID, Touch ID or a strong password. The PayPal application or Safari/Chrome should be updated.

Create a Passkey

Open Safari (or PayPal app) and use your regular username / password to log in to PayPal. Upon signing in, PayPal will present a message that will say something such as Create a passkey. Tap this option. You will be required to authenticate, such as Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone. As soon as it is verified, PayPal will create the passkey and save it in your secure system (iCloud Keychain).

Future Logins

Once this is set, the next time you log to PayPal on that iPhone, there will be an option to use the passkey. Just tap and pin it with Face ID or Touch ID rather than a type password. Then PayPal will give access instantly without any passwords to input.

Since your passkey is integrated with the iCloud Keychain, it will be shown on other Apple devices you are signed in with the same Apple account (iOS 16+, macOS Ventura, etc.). It means that as soon as you create it, you can thus use it on iPad or your Mac and do not have to enter a password.

How to Set Passkeys on Android

Android setup is similar. Ensure you have Android 9 or later with Chrome (108+) or the PayPal app. Then:

Prerequisites

Have a secure lock screen (fingerprint, PIN or pattern) enabled on your phone. Use the latest Chrome browser or PayPal app.

Create a Passkey

Open Chrome and log in to PayPal.com (or open the PayPal app) and log in. PayPal will identify the compatible device and prompt whether to make a passkey. Tap Enter a passkey, and press the instruction. The phone will require you to authenticate, e.g. scan your fingerprint or swipe your PIN. After verification a new keys-passkey is generated and stored to Google secure Password Manager.

Future Logins

Once created, the next time you log into PayPal via that Android phone, you will be presented with an option of the passkey. You can just tap it and unlock your phone (fingerprints, face or PIN) to get logged in without typing the PayPal password.

Once set up, your Android passkeys are synced with your Google account. This means they can be used on any of your other Android devices (Android 9+) where you’re signed in with the same Google account.

Using and Managing Your Passkeys

After creating a passkey, using it is straightforward: just choose the passkey option at the PayPal login screen and unlock your device. PayPal treats this as one strong authentication factor (your device and biometrics). In some cases (e.g. a new device or location), PayPal may still require an additional step like an SMS one-time passcode as a second factor.

If you ever need to remove a passkey, you can do so via your PayPal account’s Security settings. If your phone is lost or you upgrade to a new device, you should delete the old passkey.

Note: deleting the passkey from your PayPal account does not remove it from your device, you would delete it in your phone’s password manager separately. Importantly, if a device is lost or stolen, the saved passkey on that device cannot be used without your face/fingerprint or PIN. Meanwhile, you can always log in with your original password or a one-time code.

For most users, passkeys will become the primary login method. You won’t need to enter your PayPal password on that device again. And because passkeys are backed up via iCloud or Google, you won’t lose them if you get a new phone, your stored keys transfer over automatically.