Microsoft has announced a major shift in its approach to account security, making passwordless sign-ins the default option for all new accounts. This move marks a significant step towards a future where passwords are a thing of the past, and more secure methods like passkeys, push notifications, and security keys take center stage.

The company has been supporting passwordless Windows logins for years and has even allowed users to delete passwords from their accounts. However, this new initiative takes things a step further by not prompting new users to create a password at all. Instead, they will be presented with passwordless options for signing into their account, making the process more streamlined and secure.

The redesigned sign-in window is optimized for a passwordless and passkey-first experience, with reordered steps that flow better for users. This change is accompanied by Microsoft's pledge to continue implementing passkeys over the coming year, with the company already seeing impressive results. According to Microsoft, nearly a million passkeys are registered every day, and passkey users have a 98 percent success rate of signing in, compared to 32 percent for password-based accounts.

Existing users won't be forced to abandon their passwords just yet, but they can visit their account settings to delete their password and switch to a passwordless option. Microsoft is also renaming "World Password Day" to "World Passkey Day" to mark this significant shift in its approach to security.

This move by Microsoft is part of a broader industry trend towards passwordless authentication. Other tech giants, like Google, are also exploring similar solutions, such as passkey syncing and secure transfer of passkeys. The goal is to provide users with a more secure and convenient way to access their accounts, reducing the risk of password-related breaches and vulnerabilities.

Industry experts believe that passwordless authentication is the future of account security, and Microsoft's move is a significant step in that direction. With the rise of passkeys and other passwordless methods, users can expect a more seamless and secure experience across various platforms and devices.

As the tech industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how other companies respond to Microsoft's move. Will they follow suit and adopt passwordless authentication by default? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the future of account security is looking increasingly password-free.