pass key won't save

Check your Microsoft account’s Advanced Security Options first; it shows whether the passkey was created and where it was saved, and if none appears, create it again while explicitly selecting the storage location.

Find an existing passkey

1. Open Microsoft account Advanced Security Options and sign in.
2. Look for an entry with the passkey icon.
3. Expand it to see where it is stored—for example, your Windows device or Microsoft Password Manager—and when it was last used.^1^

If you selected Windows when creating it, and you use Windows 11, also open:

Settings → Accounts → Passkeys

A passkey is not displayed as a code that you copy. Windows uses it through Windows Hello, prompting for your face, fingerprint, or PIN.

If no passkey was saved

1. On the device where you want to keep it, open Microsoft account Advanced Security Options.
2. Select Add a new way to sign in or verify.
3. Select Face, Fingerprint, PIN, or Security Key.
4. When prompted, select Change or Save another way rather than accepting an unknown default.
5. Choose one of these locations:
   • Windows device / Windows Hello
   • Microsoft Password Manager or another synchronized password manager
   • iPhone, iPad, or Android device
   • Physical security key
6. Complete the face, fingerprint, PIN, or security-key prompt.^2^

If saving to this Windows PC fails

This settings path applies to Windows 11. Open:

Settings → Accounts → Passkeys → Advanced options

Turn on Save passkeys to this Windows device, then repeat the creation process. If the Passkeys page or that option is absent, use another offered location such as Microsoft Password Manager, a phone, or a security key instead.^1^

Also check these conditions:

• Windows Hello must have a face, fingerprint, or PIN configured; passkeys cannot be used on a device without screen-lock authentication.
• A synchronized credential manager can hold only one passkey for the same website or service, so an existing passkey may already be present.
• If saving to a phone, enable Bluetooth on both devices, keep them nearby, and connect both to the internet.
• If the process timed out, cancel it, refresh the sign-in page, and start again.^3^

If it still fails, provide the exact error message, your Windows version, and whether you selected Windows, Microsoft Password Manager, phone, or security key as the save location.

References

1. [Work/school](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/security/manage-your-saved-passkeys#update-your-passkeys-if-you-get-a-new-device)
2. Create and save a passkey | Microsoft Support
3. Troubleshoot signing in with a passkey | Microsoft Support