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Passwordless sign-in

Last updated: 15 September 2026

Passwordless sign-in lets you sign in to Kraken with a passkey alone, without typing your username, email address or password. You approve the sign-in the same way you unlock your device or your security key — with a fingerprint, face scan, screen lock PIN or pattern, or the PIN on your hardware security key.

Passwordless sign-in is optional and turned off by default. Your passkeys work as a sign-in two-factor authentication (2FA) method whether or not you use it.

  • •

    As a sign-in 2FA method. You enter your username or email address and your password, then approve with your passkey. Every passkey on your account can be used this way.

  • •

    To sign in without a password. You select Sign in with passkey and approve with your passkey only. This works with passkeys that have passwordless sign-in enabled.

Whether a passkey can be used without a password is set when the passkey is created, and can’t be changed afterward. See “Using a passkey you already have” below.

  1. 1

    Sign in to your Kraken account.

  2. 2

    Navigate to Settings > Security.

  3. 3

    Turn on Passwordless sign-in.

  4. 4

    Create a new passkey. Any passkey you create while this setting is on can be used to sign in without a password.

Turning on Passwordless sign-in does two things: it lets you sign in with a passkey alone, and it means any new passkey you create can be used that way. It doesn’t change passkeys you already have.

  1. 1

    Go to the sign-in page on web, or open the Kraken app.

  2. 2

    Select Sign in with passkey.

  3. 3

    Choose your passkey.

  4. 4

    Approve the sign-in on your device — with a fingerprint, face scan, screen lock PIN, your computer’s password, or the PIN on your security key.

You won’t be asked for your username, email address or password.

  1. 1

    Sign in to your Kraken account.

  2. 2

    Navigate to Settings > Security > Two-factor authentication (2FA).

Passkeys that can be used to sign in without a password are marked with a Passwordless tag. Passkeys without the tag work as a 2FA method only.

A passkey can only be used to sign in without a password if Passwordless sign-in was turned on at the moment that passkey was created. This is set permanently, and turning the setting on later doesn’t change it.

Passkeys created before you turned the setting on keep working as a 2FA method, but can’t start a sign-in on their own. The simplest way to start signing in without a password is to add a new passkey:

  1. 1

    Sign in to your Kraken account.

  2. 2

    Navigate to Settings > Security and turn on Passwordless sign-in.

  3. 3

    Create a new passkey.

Your existing passkeys stay on your account and keep working as 2FA methods.

To use one of your existing passkeys without a password — for example one stored on a security key you want to keep using — you’ll need to delete it and set it up again while Passwordless sign-in is turned on. You can’t delete the only 2FA method on your account, so you may need to add another one first.

  1. 1

    Sign in to your Kraken account.

  2. 2

    Navigate to Settings > Security and make sure Passwordless sign-in is turned on.

  3. 3

    Go to Two-factor authentication (2FA).

  4. 4

    If the passkey is the only 2FA method on your account, set up a second one first — an authenticator app, for example.

  5. 5

    Delete the passkey you want to change.

  6. 6

    Set the passkey up again. It can now be used to sign in without a password.

We recommend keeping the second 2FA method on your account as a backup.

With no password in the sign-in, your passkey needs to prove two things: that it’s your device, and that it’s you using it. That’s why you’re always asked for a fingerprint, face scan or PIN.

It also means that if your laptop, phone or security key is lost or stolen, it can’t be used to sign in to your Kraken account on its own.

Turning on passwordless sign-in doesn’t remove or change the other ways you can sign in.

If you have a Kraken password, you can still sign in with your username or email address and your password. You’ll need it any time you’re not signing in with a passkey, including if you turn Passwordless sign-in off, so keep it stored safely — for example in a password manager.

If your account uses Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Google, you may not have a Kraken password at all. Setting one is optional, and you can keep signing in with Apple or Google instead. See Managing accounts created with Apple or Google Sign-In.

Signing in with your password, or with Apple or Google, always asks for your 2FA as well. Signing in with a passkey doesn’t need a separate 2FA step — the passkey confirms both that it’s your device and that it’s you.

To sign in without a password, your security key needs a PIN set on the key itself. If you haven’t set one, you may be prompted to do so the first time you use it.

This is your security key’s own PIN — not your Kraken password or 2FA code — and Kraken can’t reset or recover it for you.

Older FIDO2 security keys that don’t support PINs can’t be used to sign in without a password. You can still use them as a 2FA method.

  1. 1

    Sign in to your Kraken account.

  2. 2

    Navigate to Settings > Security.

  3. 3

    Turn off Passwordless sign-in.

Your passkeys stay on your account and keep working as 2FA methods. Any passkey you create while the setting is off can’t be used to sign in without a password later, even if you turn the setting back on.

The passkey you chose can’t be used to sign in without a password. When you select Sign in with passkey, your device offers every passkey saved on it — including passkeys that only work as a 2FA method — so it’s easy to pick one of those by mistake.

  1. 1

    Choose a different passkey — one marked Passwordless in your security settings.

  2. 2

    Or sign in another way — with your username or email address and password, or with Apple or Google if your account uses one — then use your passkey when you’re asked for 2FA.

Depending on your device or browser, you may need to select Cancel or Try again to see all of your passkey options.

To use that particular passkey without a password, see “Using a passkey you already have” above.

Passwordless sign-in is turned off on your account. Your passkey is fine and still works as a 2FA method.

  1. 1

    Navigate to id.kraken.com/sign-in and sign in with your username or email address and your password, or with Apple or Google if your account uses one.

  2. 2

    Navigate to Settings > Security.

  3. 3

    Turn Passwordless sign-in back on.

  1. 1

    Go to the sign-in page.

  2. 2

    Enter your username or email address and your password.

  3. 3

    Select Recover account and follow the steps.

If you’ve forgotten your password, reset it first.

If you don’t have a Kraken password — for example your account uses Sign in with Apple or Sign in with Google — see Managing accounts created with Apple or Google Sign-In.

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