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Sign in to Microsoft on a Windows Computer with Your iPhone Passkey

Shaun
Updated

Sign in to Microsoft on a Windows Computer with Your iPhone Passkey

Use these steps to sign in to your North Star Microsoft account on a Windows computer using the passkey saved in Microsoft Authenticator on your iPhone.

Before you begin

  • Your Microsoft passkey must already be set up on your iPhone.
  • Your iPhone must be running iOS 17 or later.
  • Bluetooth must be turned on on both the Windows computer and the iPhone.
  • Both devices must have an internet connection.
  • Keep your iPhone near the computer while signing in.
Step 1 — Enter your North Star email address

At the Microsoft sign-in screen:

  1. Enter your North Star email address.
  2. Select Next.

Example: firstname.lastname@gonorthstar.group

Microsoft sign-in screen showing where to enter the user's email address

Step 2 — Select Sign-in options

Instead of entering a password, select:

Sign-in options

Then select:

Face, fingerprint, PIN or security key

Microsoft Sign-in options and Face fingerprint PIN or security key option

Tip: You do not need to enter your Microsoft password when using your passkey.
Step 3 — Choose your iPhone

Windows will ask where your passkey is located.

Select:

iPhone, iPad, or Android device

Windows Choose a passkey screen showing iPhone iPad or Android device

Step 4 — Scan the QR code with your iPhone

A QR code will appear on the Windows computer.

Microsoft Sign in with a passkey screen showing a QR code

  1. Unlock your iPhone.
  2. Open the normal Camera app on your iPhone.
  3. Point the camera at the QR code on the computer.
  4. Tap the notification that appears on your iPhone.
Important: On iPhone, scan this QR code using the built-in Camera app. Do not use the QR scanner inside Microsoft Authenticator for this step.
Step 5 — Tap Sign in with passkey on your iPhone

After scanning the QR code, your iPhone will recognize that the computer is requesting a passkey.

Tap:

Sign in with passkey

Your iPhone and computer will securely connect using Bluetooth.

Keep your iPhone close to the computer until the sign-in is complete.
Step 6 — Approve the passkey on your iPhone

Your iPhone will ask you to confirm your identity.

Approve the sign-in using whichever option your iPhone normally uses:

  • Face ID
  • Touch ID
  • Your iPhone device PIN

This unlocks the passkey stored on your phone. Your Microsoft password is not required.

Step 7 — Wait for the computer to complete the sign-in

After you approve the passkey on your iPhone, Windows should display that the device has connected.

Microsoft passkey screen showing Device connected

Microsoft will then automatically finish signing you into your North Star account.

You're signed in!
No Microsoft password was required.
Troubleshooting — QR code does not appear

If you do not see the QR code:

  1. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on the computer.
  2. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on the iPhone.
  3. Make sure both devices are connected to the internet.
  4. Keep the iPhone close to the computer.
  5. Return to Sign-in options.
  6. Select Face, fingerprint, PIN or security key.
  7. Select iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Troubleshooting — Microsoft asks for a password

You do not need to use your password when signing in with your passkey.

Select:

Sign-in options → Face, fingerprint, PIN or security key

Microsoft Sign-in options showing Face fingerprint PIN or security key

Microsoft reference: Screens shown in this article are from Microsoft's official Microsoft Entra passkey documentation. 

Microsoft Learn — Sign in with a synced passkey 
Microsoft Learn — Sign in with passkeys in Microsoft Authenticator 

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