Note: Passkeys are being released in phases. If you don't see the option to add a passkey yet, it isn’t available for your account.
Passkeys provide a faster and more secure way to sign in to your SimplePractice account. A passkey is a secure digital credential saved to your device or password manager. It lets you sign in with your fingerprint, face, device PIN, or password manager instead of entering your password and a two-factor authentication code.
Passkeys can make signing in:
- Faster: You don’t need to enter your password or a verification code
- Easier: There’s no additional password or code to remember
- More secure: Your passkey only works with SimplePractice, helping protect your account from phishing attempts
Your fingerprint, facial recognition data, and device PIN remain on your device and aren’t shared with SimplePractice.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
Note: Using a passkey is optional. To create one, you must first enable two-factor authentication. Once enabled, two-factor authentication can't be turned off.
Setting up a passkey
After enabling two-factor authentication, you can create a passkey at any time. To do this:
- Navigate to Settings > Profile > Profile and security
- Next to SimplePractice security, select Manage
- Next to Passkey, click Add passkey
- Enter your SimplePractice password
- Follow the prompts from your device, browser, or password manager to confirm your identity using your fingerprint, face, device PIN, or password manager credentials
Note: There’s no limit to the number of passkeys you can add.
Your setup options will vary depending on your device, operating system, browser, and password manager. You may also have the option to scan a QR code with your phone and follow the prompts to complete setup.
Important: We recommend creating passkeys only on personal or trusted devices.
Signing in with a passkey
After creating a passkey:
- Navigate to the SimplePractice sign-in page
- Enter your email address
- Click Sign in with passkey
- Follow the prompts from your device, browser, or password manager to confirm your identity using your fingerprint, face, device PIN, or password manager credentials
You’ll be signed in without entering your SimplePractice password or a two-factor authentication code.
Managing your passkeys
To manage your passkeys:
- Navigate to Settings > Profile > Profile and security
- Next to SimplePractice security, click Manage
- Locate the Passkey section
Each passkey is listed with its name and the date and time it was added. From here, you can:
- Click Add passkey to create another passkey
- Click the trash icon next to a passkey to remove it
When adding or removing a passkey, enter your SimplePractice password and click Continue.
Note: Once you remove a passkey, you can no longer use it to sign in. Removing your passkeys won’t turn off two-factor authentication.
FAQs
- Are passkeys required?
- How do passkeys work with two-factor authentication?
- Can I still sign in without my passkey?
- Can I use a passkey on multiple devices?
- What happens if I lose the device containing my passkey?
- Does SimplePractice receive my biometric information?
- Can another team member use my passkey?
Are passkeys required?
No. Using a passkey is optional. You can continue signing in with your password and existing two-factor authentication method.
You must enable two-factor authentication before creating a passkey. Once enabled, two-factor authentication can't be turned off.
How do passkeys work with two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication must remain enabled in your account to use a passkey. When you sign in with a passkey, it verifies your identity in place of your SimplePractice password and two-factor authentication code.
To learn more, see Protecting your account with two-factor authentication (2FA).
Can I still sign in without my passkey?
Yes. If you can’t use your passkey, you can sign in using your SimplePractice password and the text message or authenticator app you set up for two-factor authentication.
Can I use a passkey on multiple devices?
This depends on where your passkey is saved. Passkeys saved to a supported password manager or cloud account may sync across your connected devices. You may also be able to use a passkey saved on your phone to sign in on another device by scanning a QR code.
The options available will depend on your device, browser, operating system, and password manager.
What happens if I lose the device containing my passkey?
If your passkey was synced through your device’s cloud account or password manager, it may be available when you sign in to the same account on a new device.
You can also sign in to SimplePractice using your password and existing two-factor authentication method. If you no longer have access to the device you use for two-factor authentication, see What should I do if I lose access to the phone I've set up two-factor authentication with?
After signing in, remove the passkey associated with the lost device from your security settings. To learn more, see Managing your passkeys.
Does SimplePractice receive my biometric information?
No. Your fingerprint and facial recognition information remain on your device. SimplePractice only receives confirmation that your device successfully verified your identity.
Can another team member use my passkey?
No. Passkeys and login credentials shouldn’t be shared. Each person who accesses a practice should have their own SimplePractice login and create a passkey for their individual account.
To learn more, see Adding and managing team members.