Two concepts frequently discussed in this space when looking to improve user authentication systems are Face ID and passkeys. While both involve modern forms of authentication, they are fundamentally different in design and application.
Is Face ID the same as passkeys?
The short answer is no. Face ID and passkeys aren't the same, though they can work together to create a seamless authentication experience. Here's the breakdown:
Face ID is a biometric authentication system that uses the unique features of your face to unlock your device or access specific apps and services. Think of it as a sophisticated lock that recognizes you. It's a form of biometric identification, which means it relies on a physical trait (your face) to verify your identity.
Passkeys, on the other hand, is an authentication method that uses cryptographic key pairs (a public key and a private key). Instead of typing in a password, users authenticate using biometrics like Face ID or a device PIN to unlock a private key stored securely on their device, browser, or password manager. Passkeys are part of a broader shift toward passwordless authentication, enhancing both security and convenience.
So while Face ID can be part of the authentication process when using passkeys, Face ID itself isn't a passkey. Face ID handles biometric verification, while passkeys represent an entire passwordless authentication system that can utilize biometrics like Face ID for user verification.
Passkeys vs biometrics: What’s the difference?
Passkeys provide strong authentication through cryptographic key pairs (a public key and a private key) that are stored securely on the user's device, browser, or password manager.
Unlike Face ID, which primarily handles user verification, passkeys offer a complete end-to-end authentication solution. When a user wants to access your app or service, their private key is unlocked on their device (often using biometrics like Face ID or a PIN), and the authentication process completes without requiring password entry.
This approach makes passkeys highly secure and convenient for verifying user identity. Their cryptographic process ensures resistance to phishing attacks by preventing the transfer of sensitive information over the internet.
How do passkeys work?
The registration process
Passkeys are built on public key-based authentication. During registration, your authenticator generates two things:
- A public key, which is shared with the application
- A corresponding private key, stored securely on the authenticator
The authentication process
When you want to sign in, the application issues a challenge and encrypts the request using your public key. If you successfully decrypt the challenge with your private key (unlocked via Face ID, fingerprint, or PIN), you're authenticated into the application.
Face ID's role in the authentication ecosystem
Face ID serves as a biometric verification method, primarily functioning as a screen lock that scans your facial features when reopening an app or web app to add an extra security layer. Its main purpose is confirming that the person accessing the app is the device owner.
However, Face ID by itself isn't a complete end-to-end authentication system and doesn't provide the same level of security as passkeys. The key difference lies in the cryptographic ceremony that involves server-side validation.
While Face ID provides fast and user-friendly identity verification, it's typically part of a larger authentication process. For example, it can unlock the private key needed for a passkey or provide access to secure apps. Face ID works alongside other systems, such as passkeys, to ensure higher security levels.
When used in mobile native applications, Face ID functions primarily as a screen lock mechanism. To ensure comprehensive security, it must be integrated into a broader authentication protocol, such as FIDO2 passkeys.
They work together but are not the same
Passkeys offer a secure passwordless system, while biometrics like Face ID act as a user-friendly way to unlock and access that system. They work together, but they serve different purposes in the authentication landscape.
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