From Passwords to Passkeys: Smarter, Safer Magento Admin Access

Vincent

27.08.2026

Open Sesame! This phrase from ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’ is certainly well-known and a pretty simple form of a password. As magical as the story is, it quite obviously shows the weaknesses of passwords. Because you basically only have to find one way to eavesdrop on the password and you already have access to sensitive data. And this is exactly where passkeys come in. In this article, we want to take a closer look at the advantages of passkeys and how they can be used in Magento 2 to make admin access more secure.

Like a literal key, a passkey works by using a specific device to log you in, rather than a piece of information that can be used by anyone. When you set up a passkey, a pair of secure keys is created by using the unlock function of a device like your fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN, or pattern. One key stays on the device and is never revealed. The other key is stored on the server and acts as the lock to this specific key. When you want to log in, you only have to unlock your device. This doesn’t just make it safer but also a lot easier than typing in a password.

Besides the possibility of your password becoming public through data breaches and hacks, passwords are also clunky. Secure passwords are difficult to remember, so many people use simple ones or use the same password over and over, making them even more vulnerable. A password manager can help, but they don’t make the password itself more secure and they don’t prevent phishing. Meaning, you accidentally log yourself in on a fake site that now has all of your log in information or tricks you into revealing even more sensitive information.

Two-factor authentication makes passwords a bit more secure by making it more complicated to steal your login information, but in turn it also makes it more complicated to log in for yourself and your admins. And it still doesn’t prevent someone from listening in or tricking you with a fake login page.

When you use a passkey, it’s not just much easier to use, it also makes two-factor authentication obsolete. Data breaches can’t affect you because the private part of your passkey is never revealed, so it can’t be stolen. Additionally, a passkey also protects you from phishing since you cannot use it to log in on a fake site accidentally. That is why the UK’s NCSC and Germany’s BSI both recommend passkeys over passwords.

Passkeys are already available on many platforms and devices, and they are becoming more and more common. Unfortunately, Magento 2 does not yet support passkeys natively. However, this is where our Passkey Login extension comes in. With this extension, you can easily set up passkey login for your Magento 2 admin panel, making it much more secure and user-friendly for you and your admins. You never need any username or password again for your Magento 2 shop, just your device. This not only makes it more secure but also much easier to log in, especially for those who have trouble remembering complex passwords.
If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help!