TikTok has announced that it is adding Passkeys support to iOS devices for passwordless login for a faster, easier, and more secure way for people to sign into their accounts using Face ID or Touch ID.

TikTok iOS users will now have the option to use passkeys instead of a password to sign into their TikTok account directly from their iCloud account across devices. Passkeys for iPhone are supported on iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and later, macOS Ventura, and tvOS 16.

“Passkeys are password replacements that can confirm your identity based on encrypted biometric authentication methods already available on your device. When you use passkeys, all biometric authentication data remains on your device and cannot be accessed or processed by third-party apps, like TikTok. If you are an iOS user, you may already use passkeys on other applications,” the company announced in a blog post.

Passkeys are an industry passwordless authentication standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium. Passkeys provide added protection against phishing attacks, data breaches, social engineering, server leaks, and device theft. It also helps prevent security lapses.

Further, apps using passkeys, including TikTok, cannot access or process any of the biometric data used in the authentication process on iOS devices, and all biometric authentication data remains on users’ devices.

By introducing passkeys for iOS users, TikTok joins the FIDO Alliance, a global organization whose stated mission is to develop and promote authentication standards that “help reduce the world’s over-reliance on passwords”. The FIDO Alliance includes major companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Samsung, American Express, PayPal, and many more.

“We are thrilled to join the FIDO Alliance as we begin to introduce passkeys for login, working with industry leaders to amplify secure passwordless technologies,” said Kim Albarella, TikTok Head of Global Security.

“Passwords are a hindrance to security and user experience that are long past their expiration date – which is why the FIDO Alliance has created open standards for passwordless authentication that are being utilized by leading service providers to allow consumers to have easier access to leading online services such as TikTok,” said     Andrew Shikiar, FIDO Alliance Executive Director.

Passkey authentication works by using public-private key cryptography methods. To use a passkey on TikTok, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Have an Apple device running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, tvOS 16 or later.
  • iCloud Keychain must be turned on in your Apple device settings.
  • Two-factor authentication must be turned on for your Apple ID.

How To Set Up A Passkey On TikTok

To set up a passkey on your TikTok account, you need to follow the below-mentioned steps:

  1. Tap on Profile at the bottom of the TikTok app.
  2. Then, tap on the Menu button at the top.
  3. Click Settings and privacy.
  4. Click Account.
  5. Tap iCloud passkey, then tap Set up on the next screen and follow the instructions provided to complete setup.

So, when you log in the next time, you will be prompted to log in with your saved passkey.

Starting this month, TikTok will begin rolling out passkey support to its app for iPhone users in Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. For now, passkey will be an iOS-only feature.

However, the short-video platform has plans to expand the feature to more countries and operating systems “over time”.