---
title: I cannot use my passkey as a passwordless login
description: Find out why your passkey cannot be used as a standalone login method and how to resolve it.
tags: passkey passwordless account verification error
dates:
  validation: 2026-06-29
  posted: 2026-06-29
---

## Problem

I cannot use my passkey as a standalone login method on the Scaleway console.

## Symptoms

- I see a **"Passkey upgrade failed"** error when trying to enable passwordless login for my passkey in **Account Security**.
- After authenticating with my passkey, I am returned to the login form instead of being signed in.
- I canceled or timed out of the verification prompt when trying to upgrade my passkey.

## Possible causes

- Your passkey does not support user verification — it only requires a physical touch, with no PIN or biometric configured.
- Your hardware security key has no PIN set.
- Biometrics (Touch ID, Face ID, Windows Hello) are not enabled or enrolled on your device.
- You are using a synced passkey (for example, via iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager) on a device where biometrics or a PIN are not configured.
- You canceled the verification prompt during the upgrade flow.
- The verification prompt timed out before you completed it.
- Browser security policies on a company-managed device are preventing user verification.

## Solution

**If you see the "Passkey upgrade failed" error and canceled or timed out:**
Click **Retry** on the error dialog and complete the biometric or PIN prompt when it appears. Make sure biometrics are working correctly on your device before retrying.

**If your hardware security key has no PIN:**
Set a PIN on your key using its companion app — for example, [YubiKey Manager](https://www.yubico.com/support/download/yubikey-manager/) for YubiKey devices, or your manufacturer's equivalent tool. Once a PIN is set, the key supports user verification and can be used as a standalone login method. You do not need to re-register the key.

**If biometrics are not enabled on your device:**

- **macOS:** Go to **System Settings > Touch ID & Password** and make sure Touch ID is enabled with at least one fingerprint enrolled.
- **Windows:** Go to **Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options** and configure Windows Hello (fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN).
- **iOS/Android:** Make sure biometrics are set up and active in your device settings.
**If you are using a synced passkey on a device without biometrics:**
Set up biometrics or a PIN on the current device, or switch to a device where your passkey's user verification is active.

**If you are on a company-managed device:**
Contact your IT administrator to check whether WebAuthn user verification is permitted in your browser environment. As an alternative, [set a password on your Scaleway account](https://www.scaleway.com/en/docs/account/how-to/change-password/) and use your passkey as a second factor (MFA) instead.

**If you have lost access to your passkey entirely** (lost device or broken hardware key):

- **If your account has a password set:** use your recovery code + your password.
- **If your account is passwordless:** use your recovery code + an alternative factor (email code, TOTP, or a secondary passkey if you registered one).

<Message type="tip">
To reduce the risk of being locked out, register a backup passkey and store your recovery codes securely. If the console warns you that your passkey is not backed up to a cloud account, register an additional passkey or save your recovery codes before you need them.
</Message>

## Going further

If you have tried the solutions above and the issue persists, try the following before contacting Support:

- Remove the passkey from **Account Security > Passkeys** and register it again.
- Make sure your browser is up-to-date. Use a recent version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
- Try a different browser — some handle biometric prompts differently across platforms.

If none of the above resolves the issue, [open a Support ticket](https://console.scaleway.com/support/tickets/create), specifying:

- The name of the affected passkey (as shown in your security settings).
- The device and browser you are using.
- Whether you see the upgrade error, are returned to the login form, or both.