Using pwSafe Passkeys on a Windows PC with Your iPhone

You can use passkeys stored in pwSafe on your iPhone to sign in on a Windows PC. In this setup, the passkey is not moved to Windows. Instead, Windows shows a QR code, your iPhone scans it, and pwSafe completes the passkey authentication on the iPhone.

Before You Start

Make sure you have the following:

• An iPhone with pwSafe installed
• A passkey already saved in an entry in pwSafe
• pwSafe enabled in iPhone AutoFill for passwords and passkeys
• Bluetooth enabled on both the iPhone and the Windows PC
• Both devices nearby and connected to the internet
• A website or app on Windows that supports passkeys

How Sign-In Works

1. On your Windows PC, open the website and choose Sign in with a passkey.
2. If Windows first offers a local passkey, choose Choose a different passkey or iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
   
3. Windows shows a QR code.
   
4. On your iPhone, open the Camera app and scan the QR code.
5. Tap the sign-in prompt that appears on the iPhone.
6. When iOS asks which provider to use, choose pwSafe.
7. Unlock your safe in pwSafe.
8. If pwSafe suggests the wrong entry, select the correct one manually.
9. pwSafe signs the request and the website finishes signing you in on Windows.

Creating a New Passkey from Windows

You can also create a new passkey on a Windows PC and save it into pwSafe on your iPhone.

1. On the website, start the Create passkey or Save passkey flow.
2. When asked where to save the passkey, choose Other options or Save on another device.
3. Choose iPhone, iPad, or Android device if that option is shown.
4. Scan the QR code with your iPhone.
5. Choose pwSafe, unlock your safe, and select the entry where the passkey should be stored.
6. Complete the flow on the iPhone.

After that, the passkey remains stored in pwSafe and can be used again later from Windows with the same QR-code flow.

Important Notes

• This setup uses the iPhone as the authenticator. The passkey stays in pwSafe on the iPhone.
• You may need to pick the correct entry manually in pwSafe if the first suggestion is not the right one.
• With iPhone-based cross-device passkey sign-in, you should expect to scan a QR code each time.
• On Windows 11 version 23H2 or newer, this works more broadly across apps and browsers. On older Windows versions, it is mainly available in Chrome and Edge.

Troubleshooting

If the QR code does not appear, check the following:

• Bluetooth is enabled on both devices
• The iPhone and Windows PC are close to each other
• Both devices are connected to the internet
• The website actually supports passkeys

If another password manager opens instead of pwSafe, review the iPhone AutoFill settings and disable other providers if needed.

Recommended references for readers:

• Does pwSafe support Passkeys?
• Troubleshoot signing in with a passkey

Compatibility details are checked against:

• Use passkeys to sign in to websites and apps on iPhone
• Windows passkey support on passkeys.dev