Microsoft is overhauling its sign-in screens to make it easier to authenticate your account using passkeys and other passwordless methods. In a blog post published Wednesday, Robin Goldstein, partner director of product management for Microsoft Identity, said that the new sign-in process will appear in Outlook, Xbox, Windows, and Microsoft 365, among other services.
Also: The best security keys
The new screens have already been popping up, starting with Xbox this past month. The rollout will continue through the end of April. At that point, the more than 3 billion Microsoft users around the world should see the revamped process when they log in to Windows on their PCs and to Microsoft’s platforms on the web.
Streamlining the authentication UX
One of the main goals of the new process is to help people more easily use passwordless options, such as passkeys, facial recognition, and fingerprint scans. The current sign-in screens still emphasize passwords as the default login method. But given the move toward easier and more secure forms of authentication, a change has been needed.
“Streamlining the authentication UX [user experience] design allowed us to rethink the default experiences for sign-in, putting even greater emphasis on usability and security,” Goldstein said. “Over the last few years, we’ve introduced several enhancements, including the ability to completely remove the password from your account and support for passkey sign-in instead of using a password. Our new UX is optimized for a passwordless and passkey-first experience.”
Also: Microsoft is changing the way you sign in – and it could be a security nightmare
The new experience starts with the sign-up process. If you sign up for a Microsoft service with an existing email address, you won’t be prompted to create a password. Instead, you’ll receive a one-time security code via email that you’ll then verify to gain access. Once you’re logged in, you’ll be asked to create a passkey. If you do so, your passkey will become the default sign-in option whenever possible.
“By bringing your own email address to a new Microsoft account, you start in a recoverable state, and you don’t have to create a new Microsoft password that could be easily forgotten or guessed by an attacker,” Goldstein explained. “All you need to do is verify the email with a one-time code, and this becomes the default credential for your new account, so you start off passwordless. Not only that, but you now have an email address attached to your account if you ever need to recover your account or get started on a new device.”
Also: These 10 weak passwords can leave you vulnerable to remote desktop attacks
Microsoft is also revamping the flow of the sign-in screens. Depending on how you currently log in, you may have to contend with multiple screens, each with its own choices. That can make the entire experience too complex and cumbersome. The new process promises to reorder the screens in a more intuitive way and simplify each screen so they all flow more smoothly.
Fluent Design aesthetic
Next up is the look and feel of the new sign-in screens. Microsoft is repainting them with its Fluent Design aesthetic, giving them a more streamlined and uniform appearance. The screens are more centered to help you focus on them without distraction. Further, they’ve been optimized to look right on everything from a small mobile phone to a large desktop monitor.
Also: 7 ways to get more out of your Bitwarden password manager
One of the most requested features based on user feedback was support for a dark theme. You’ll be able to choose either a light or dark theme depending on your preferences. Your theme of choice will then automatically be enabled each time you sign in.
Also: Bitwarden vs. 1Password: Which password manager is best?
I tried out the new sign-in screen with Xbox, and it does improve the login experience. I typically use an authenticator app to verify my Microsoft account. The new experience enhances that method but also offers other types of passwordless authentication.
How to try the new process now
Moving forward, web and mobile apps will adopt the new screens first. Support for Windows and Windows apps will follow. To get a feel for the new process as it currently stands, try it at the Xbox website. Otherwise, wait until the end of April, and you’ll be able to see how it works across the board.
