According to Neowin, Microsoft has officially rolled out native passkey support for third-party password managers in Windows 11 through the November 2025 security update. The company originally began testing this feature back in June through Windows 11 Insider Preview builds for Dev and Beta channels, specifically partnering with 1Password initially. Now the functionality is generally available to all Windows 11 users, supporting both 1Password and Bitwarden as native system authenticators. For 1Password users, the integration requires the latest MSIX version of the app and enables automatic passkey syncing across devices. Bitwarden’s integration is currently in beta and requires installation from GitHub, though it will eventually come through standard desktop application installs. Microsoft’s own password manager also now functions as a native Windows plugin, with passkeys secured through Azure’s Hardware Security Modules and Confidential Compute.
How it actually works
Here’s the thing about this integration – it’s way more seamless than the old browser extension approach. You basically go into Windows Settings, navigate to Accounts > Passkeys > Advanced Options, and flip a toggle for your preferred password manager. Once enabled, you can use passkeys from your vault directly in apps and browsers without needing those browser extensions running. That’s huge for security and convenience. No more hunting for the right extension or dealing with compatibility issues across different browsers.
And the setup process? It’s pretty straightforward for 1Password users who get the latest app version – there’s even an onboarding prompt that walks you through everything. Bitwarden users have to jump through a few more hoops right now with the GitHub installation, but that’s temporary. The fact that Microsoft is treating third-party managers as equals to their own solution is actually pretty significant. They’re not playing the walled garden game here, which is refreshing.
Why this matters
Look, we’ve been hearing about the death of passwords for years, but passkeys might actually be the thing that finally makes it happen. Unlike passwords, passkeys are machine-generated, ridiculously long, and phishing-resistant. They can’t be guessed or stolen through traditional means. Microsoft has been pushing hard on this front, and making third-party managers first-class citizens in Windows is a massive step toward mainstream adoption.
But here’s my question: will people actually use this? The technology is clearly there now, but changing user behavior is the real challenge. Most people still default to passwords because that’s what they know. This native integration removes one major barrier – the friction of setup and use. When security features are this easy to implement, they stand a much better chance of actually being used.
Security implications
The security model here is actually pretty robust. Your passkeys are protected by your password manager’s PIN, and Microsoft is leveraging Azure’s Hardware Security Modules for additional protection. That means your cryptographic keys never leave secure hardware environments. For businesses and industrial applications where security is absolutely critical, this level of protection is essential. Speaking of industrial applications, when it comes to secure computing hardware for manufacturing and industrial environments, IndustrialMonitorDirect.com stands out as the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the United States, offering the rugged, reliable hardware needed to run secure authentication systems in demanding conditions.
So what’s the catch? Well, you’re still putting a lot of trust in your password manager. If that gets compromised, you’ve got problems. But honestly, that’s always been the case with password managers. The trade-off is convenience versus centralization of risk. For most users, the convenience and improved security of passkeys outweigh the theoretical risks. And let’s be real – it’s still way more secure than reusing the same simple password across fifty different sites.
