What Is a Passkey
A passkey is an authentication credential based on the FIDO2/WebAuthn standard. It can be used for scenarios such as unlocking your wallet, exporting mnemonics, or changing passwords.
Using public-private key cryptography, the verification key is stored on your local device only — via your fingerprint, face ID, system password, or an external security key. This lets you log in securely and conveniently without re-entering your password.
- Convenient: Supports fingerprints, facial recognition, system passwords, and external security keys.
- Decentralized: Ensures all verification data stays on your device, without relying on cloud sync.
How to Use a Passkey
- Enable the passkey
Open the TronLink extension and go to Settings > Experimental > Passkey.
Toggle the switch on and follow the prompts.
For example, if you want to enable the passkey via your Chrome profile:
- Select “Your Chrome profile” and register your passkey using your system password or fingerprint.
2. Verify your identity again via the system password or your fingerprint to complete the setup.
2. Scenarios
Once enabled, the passkey can be used in the following scenarios:
- You can unlock your wallet using either the passkey or your wallet password.
2) You can also use either your passkey or password when exporting mnemonics and private keys, or changing your password.
FAQs
Q1: Are passkeys safe?
Yes. Passkeys are designed to be safer and more convenient than traditional passwords. Passkeys use the FIDO2/WebAuthn standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and W3C, and employ public-private key cryptography for authentication. Your private key is stored only on your device and never uploaded to the Internet.
Q2: What are the dos and don’ts for the passkey feature?
- Make sure you're using your personal device, not a public or shared one.
- It's recommended not to keep large asset balances in this extension or on the device to minimize potential risks.
- The passkey feature is based on the FIDO2/WebAuthn standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and W3C. Implementation may vary across systems and device manufacturers. TronLink is not responsible for any potential losses caused by underlying technology vulnerabilities.
Q3: Will my passkey settings sync to other TronLink extensions?
No. For your security and privacy, passkey settings only take effect in the current TronLink extension. They will not sync to other TronLink extensions, even on the same physical device.
Q4: What should I do if my passkey doesn't work?
You can troubleshoot by checking the following aspects:
- System compatibility, for example:
Supported browsers: Chrome 108+, Edge 108+, Safari 16+
Supported systems: macOS 13+, iOS 16+, Android 9+
Note: Compatibility may vary by version. Keep your browser and system up to date for the best experience.
- Biometric authentication
Ensure your device has valid fingerprint data configured and enabled.
- Mobile verification
If you enable the passkey by scanning the QR code with your phone:
iOS: Make sure you're signed in to iCloud and have the “Passwords” feature of iPhone enabled.
Android: Make sure you're signed in to your Google account with Sync enabled.
- TronLink settings
Confirm that the passkey feature is enabled in Settings > Experimental.
- Passkey reset and extension update
If the issue persists, turn off the passkey feature in TronLink settings, then re-enable it. You can also check whether your TronLink extension is up-to-date.
Q5: How can I log in or verify my identity when my passkey is unavailable?
- Always keep your password safe, even after enabling the passkey feature. If your passkey becomes unavailable, you can unlock your wallet using your password. If both are lost, you need to restore your wallet using your mnemonic or private key. Your passkey and password are stored only on your device—TronLink never stores them.
Q6: Can passkeys replace mnemonics or private keys?
- No. Passkeys are used for authentication and login purposes — they do not replace your private keys or mnemonics.