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Overview
Audience: Students, Faculty, Staff
This article answers frequently asked questions about passkeys and explains what to expect as the university moves to a more secure sign‑in process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Do I have to use passkey?
Answer: Yes. Faculty, staff, and student employees are required to use a passkey by their applicable deadline (May 29th, 2026 for all IT Staff and April 2027 for the remainder of faculty, staff, and student employees). If you cannot use a passkey for a valid reason, you will have to use a YubiKey instead.
Question: What are the valid reasons for not using a passkey?
Answer:
- Your computer does not support passkeys.
- Your phone or operating system does not meet security standards.
- You are unable or unwilling to use your smart phone to authenticate.
Question: What will happen if I don't set up a passkey by the deadline?
Answer: You will be unable to access university systems. Passkey adoption is being enforced as part of security policy, and access will be restricted if it’s not set up in time. You will have to call the IT Help Desk if you become unable to access your account(s).
Question: Do I need a smart phone to use passkey?
Answer: Yes. At the University of Arkansas, passkeys are implemented through the Microsoft Authenticator app, which runs on a smart phone.
Question: Do I have to use the Microsoft Authenticator app? What about the Google Authenticator app?
Answer: Yes, you have to use the Microsoft Authenticator app. Other providers are not affiliated or vetted by the university, so they are not approved.
Question: What are the mobile device requirements to use a passkey?
Answer: To create and use passkeys, mobile devices must meet the following minimum software requirements:
- Android 14 and later or iOS 17 and later.
- Bluetooth must be enabled on both devices.
Note: Phones manufactured by OnePlus use a proprietary version of Android that does not currently support passkey through Microsoft Authenticator. Users with OnePlus devices will need a Yubikey.
Question: What happens if I try to log in to something, and it doesn't allow me to use passkey?
Answer: Testers encountered this issue, especially when trying to use a passkey with a mobile application that doesn’t support them. Contact the Help Desk to let them know about the issue. In the meantime, you may be able to use the browser version of the app. Exceptions for certain apps may be made, allowing you to use traditional MFA to login.
Question: Will I still use my password?
Answer: Yes, passwords serve a different purpose. You will still use your password to log in to applications; however, you may also be asked to authenticate with your passkey.
Question: Bluetooth functionality is required to use passkey. What if my computer or phone doesn't have Bluetooth?
Answer: If your computer does not have Bluetooth, you will need to use a Bluetooth dongle. IT Services has purchased 3,000 dongles, and you can get them from your IT Partner. If your phone does not have Bluetooth or you do not want to enable it, you will have to use a YubiKey instead.
Question: What happens if I get a new phone?
Answer: If you get a new phone, the IT Help Desk can assist with removing the security requirement which will allow setup of a new phone. If you still have access to your old phone, you can add your new phone before getting rid of your old one.
Question: What is Windows Hello? Why do I need to use it?
Answer: Windows Hello is a way of signing into your device with biometric or pin-based login, rather than a password. The security benefit is that you don’t use your password that is usable on any connected service to your account. Instead, you use a method (i.e. a PIN) that only works on that specific device. You can’t use the pin from your computer on someone else’s computer, or to log into your outlook on your phone. So even if someone knows your PIN or has your fingerprint, they cannot gain access to your cloud-based resources because it is only valid for logging into Windows on one specific device.
Question: Do I have to use biometrics with Windows Hello?
Answer: No. If you do not want to or cannot use facial recognition or a fingerprint scan, you can create a unique PIN to authenticate.
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