Microsoft is enhancing the authentication process for its popular services, including Outlook, Xbox, Windows, and Microsoft 365. This shift aims to prioritize passwordless logins while also refreshing the visual design to be more “Microsoft-centric.”
Passwordless authentication utilizes methods like face ID, fingerprint ID, or PINs—often grouped together as passkeys. While a PIN still involves entering a sequence, its storage mechanism offers superior security compared to traditional passwords. PINs are locally stored on your device, eliminating the vulnerability associated with transmitting and storing credentials on potentially susceptible servers.
According to Microsoft, this new sign-in system will default to passkeys whenever available. This should create a more consistent and predictable login experience, addressing the current ambiguity surrounding authentication methods.
Xbox users have already encountered this new login screen on web and mobile platforms, where it was tested alongside a new Xbox-themed dark mode. Microsoft reports positive feedback on the dark mode, a widely popular feature users have long requested from companies like Microsoft and Google.
The updated login experience will be rolled out gradually throughout March and April, starting with web and mobile applications, followed by Windows apps. This design overhaul is currently focused on consumer accounts, excluding school or work accounts.
