Passkeys: Windows Insider Preview opens administration for third-party providers

Microsoft has released a new Windows Insider preview in the developer channel, which should enable third-party manufacturers to manage passkeys in the system. The camera management in the system has also been given new settings.

Microsoft explains the new features in more detail in the version announcement. According to this, Microsoft is providing developers with an API for third-party passkey providers. The company has worked together with Passkey Manager partners to do this –, but Microsoft does not say what these partners are.

Enhanced WebAuthn APIs

Microsoft's developers are updating the WebAuthn APIs so that they support a plug-in authentication model. In addition to native Windows passkey management, users will be able to select a third-party passkey provider "in the coming months" and "preserve the Windows Hello user experience".

The messages in the WebAuthn flow are forwarded to the plug-in and the response is then sent back to the WebAuthn client app. This allows plug-ins to create and authenticate passkeys on request. The "seamless passkey user experience" provided by the Windows Hello user verification mechanism will be maintained. There should be further updates to this user experience regarding passkey flows and settings for the new capabilities. Programmers can find more detailed API information in the associated Github project. The API announcement has already been positively received by the Bitwarden project. However, it is currently unclear when testing of a passkey manager that uses the new API extension will start.

In addition to the improved Passkeys API, the Windows preview version also brings new settings for cameras. There is an "Edit" button under the Windows settings in "Bluetooth and devices" – "Cameras". This leads to the advanced camera options. "Multi-App Camera" allows several apps to access the camera data stream at the same time. This function should be particularly helpful for people with hearing impairments in order to be able to stream to sign language translators and end audiences at the same time. The second new function is called "Basic Camera" and only supports rudimentary camera functions. This is intended as a last resort to check the camera if it is not working correctly.

(dmk)