Microsoft Authenticator App to Stop Supporting Passwords Starting August 1

As of August 1, Microsoft will phase out the use of passwords in its Microsoft Authenticator app, which has long served as a password manager and provided two-factor authentication. The app will no longer store passwords, autofill them, or support two-factor verification. Instead, Microsoft is transitioning to passkeys—authentication methods like PINs, fingerprint scans, facial recognition, or screen patterns, which are safer than traditional passwords. Passkeys are based on public key cryptography, making them harder to crack and reducing risks from phishing and brute-force attacks. Users who still prefer to use passwords can store them in Microsoft Edge, but it’s recommended to adopt passkeys for better security. Setting up passkeys in Microsoft Authenticator is simple: after logging in, users will be prompted to enroll in a passkey as their default sign-in option. For those seeking password managers, CNET recommends Bitwarden and 1Password as top alternatives for secure password storage.