Making Passkeys the Default Without Breaking Trust

Default does not mean forced

Many teams agree on the destination: passkeys should replace passwords and OTPs as the primary sign-in method.

Where things go wrong is the path taken to get there.

When companies try to flip the switch too quickly, users feel pushed. When they move too slowly, passkeys remain a novelty. The difference between success and backlash usually comes down to trust.

Trust is built through transparency, predictability, and consistency. Defaults work only when users feel safe relying on them.

Why “default” is a behavioral decision, not a technical one

From a system perspective, making passkeys the default is straightforward. From a user perspective, it is a change in habit.

FIDO Alliance research shows that while passkey availability is widespread, familiarity is still uneven. In 2024, only 57 percent of consumers reported being familiar with passkeys. That means a large portion of users are still learning what passkeys are and when they should trust them.

Defaults work best when users already understand the behavior being reinforced.

If they do not, a default feels like a mandate.

Step 1: earn confidence before you change the default

Before passkeys become the default, users need proof that they work.

Signals that confidence is forming:

• users successfully sign in with passkeys more than once
• fallback usage declines naturally
• support tickets related to login confusion decrease
• users re-use passkeys across multiple sessions

Google’s experience at scale reinforces this. With more than one billion passkey authentications across hundreds of millions of accounts, passkeys succeeded because users encountered them repeatedly in low-friction, high-success contexts.

Do not change the default until success feels routine.

Step 2: make the system predictable across devices

Nothing erodes trust faster than inconsistency.

A common failure pattern looks like this:

• passkeys work smoothly on a phone
• behavior changes on a laptop or new device
• fallback appears without explanation
• the user loses confidence in the system

Predictability requires clarity about device behavior.

Users need to know:

• which devices are trusted
• what happens when they sign in on a new device
• how new devices are added
• how old devices are removed

Device-bound passkeys help here by reinforcing a simple mental model: this device is trusted, new devices must be registered.

That clarity makes default behavior feel logical rather than arbitrary.

Step 3: shift defaults gradually, not all at once

The most effective transitions use progressive defaults.

Examples:

• after first successful passkey sign-in, surface passkey first next time
• after repeated success, visually de-emphasize passwords
• after confidence is established, move legacy methods behind “try another way”

This approach mirrors how users adopt saved cards, biometric payments, and autofill. Familiarity precedes reliance.

Behavioral research consistently shows that users follow defaults when they feel safe doing so. They resist defaults when they feel trapped.

Step 4: be explicit about what is changing and why

Silent changes break trust.

When you shift defaults:

• tell users what is changing
• explain why it benefits them
• reassure them that recovery paths exist
• describe what will happen if something does not work

Transparency reduces fear, even when the underlying system is strict.

This is especially important in regulated products, where users associate account access with risk.

Step 5: treat fallback as a safety net, not a parallel system

Fallback must exist, but it should not compete with passkeys.

If fallback is too easy:

• users never build new habits
• passkeys remain optional
• defaults lose power

If fallback is hidden:

• users feel trapped
• trust collapses when something goes wrong

The balance:

• explain fallback when it occurs
• frame it as situational
• guide users back to passkey-first flows afterward

FIDO Alliance guidance consistently frames passkeys as a replacement for passwords, not a permanent companion. Defaulting behavior should reinforce that direction.

Step 6: measure trust, not just usage

Usage alone does not tell the full story.

Metrics that indicate trust is forming:

• percentage of sign-ins completed with passkeys
• repeat passkey usage within 30 days
• fallback frequency after successful passkey creation
• new-device registration completion rate
• reduction in authentication-related support tickets

If defaults increase usage but also increase confusion or support burden, the transition is too aggressive.

Why device-bound behavior strengthens defaults

Defaults only work when behavior is stable.

Device-bound passkeys create that stability by:

• making access paths deterministic
• reducing ambiguous sync behavior
• simplifying recovery explanations
• aligning user expectations with actual system behavior

FIDO and national security agencies consistently highlight that passkeys are phishing-resistant because authentication is bound to the legitimate site and unlocked locally on the device. Device binding extends that predictability to the product experience itself.

Users trust systems they can reason about.

A simple transition playbook

To make passkeys the default without breaking trust:

• introduce passkeys during motivated moments
• confirm success and reinforce value
• ensure cross-device behavior is explained
• gradually de-emphasize legacy methods
• communicate changes before enforcing them
• keep fallback visible but secondary
• design explicitly for device change and recovery

Each step reduces uncertainty.

Closing thought

Making passkeys the default is not about removing choice. It is about guiding behavior.

When users understand what will happen, see consistent outcomes, and trust that recovery exists, defaults feel helpful instead of hostile.

Stable, device-bound behavior turns passkeys from an option into a habit. And habits, not mandates, are what ultimately replace passwords.

sources
https://fidoalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Barometer-Report-2024-Oct-29.pdf
https://fidoalliance.org/passkey-adoption-doubles-in-2024-more-than-15-billion-online-accounts-can-leverage-passkeys/
https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/google-passkeys-update-april-2024/
https://fidoalliance.org/passkeys/

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