The UK government is widening passkey support across its GOV.UK One Login service, giving more than 23 million users the option to drop passwords.
The move follows a trial with over 300,000 people. Passkeys let users sign in with a fingerprint, Face ID, or device PIN instead of a password plus a one-time code. Officials say nearly one in ten daily One Login sign-ins already use them, and that the method is up to eight times faster.
For Whitehall there is a quieter motive: authentication texts cost money. The shift is already saving taxpayers close to 600 pounds a day in SMS fees.
Passkeys are built to resist phishing. Instead of a secret that can be stolen, reused, or typed into a convincing fake page, a passkey is a cryptographic credential tied to the specific site. The biometric or PIN that unlocks it never leaves the user’s device.
“Cyber criminals often look for the easiest route to access important accounts, which means login details remain a common target,” said Jonathon Ellison, director for national resilience at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre. “But passkeys offer a highly phishing-resistant alternative to passwords, frustrating attackers and saving the public time.”
Passwords are not going away yet. Passkeys remain optional, and users who prefer the old flow can keep it.
One Login already backs services such as checking State Pension details, managing tax, and accessing childcare support.
