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To delete a passkey saved directly on a Windows 11 PC, open Settings > Accounts > Passkeys, select the three-dot menu beside the passkey, choose Delete passkey, and confirm.
This removes the copy stored on that Windows device. It may not remove the same passkey from Microsoft or Google Password Manager, a third-party password manager, or the online account that registered it.
Before deleting it
First decide what you want to remove:
- Only this PC’s copy: delete it from Windows Settings.
- The account’s registered sign-in method: remove it from the website or account security dashboard too.
- Every copy: delete it from Windows, the relevant browser or password manager, the online account, and any other device where it was created.
Add and test another sign-in method before removing an important passkey. Use a password, authenticator, recovery method, security key, phone, or another passkey. Deleting the only working credential can make account recovery difficult.
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- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Accounts.
- Select Passkeys.
- Find the website, service, or account.
- Select the three-dot More menu beside the entry.
- Select Delete passkey.
- Confirm the deletion or authenticate with Windows Hello if prompted.
Afterward, the entry should disappear from Settings > Accounts > Passkeys. That particular Windows device should no longer offer the device-bound passkey for that service. Close and reopen the browser or app before testing the sign-in.
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Microsoft documents this management experience for Windows 11 version 22H2 with KB5030310 or later, although exact availability and labels can vary by Windows build, browser, account type, language, and organization policy. See Microsoft’s passkey-management instructions and Windows passkey documentation.
Deleting a Windows copy is not the same as revoking an account passkey
A passkey uses a private key stored by a device or credential provider and a public-key record registered with an online service. Windows Settings primarily removes the local copy. The service may still list the registered passkey, and a synced manager may still offer another copy.
| Storage location | What deletion does |
|---|---|
| Windows Hello or Windows passkey storage | Removes the local, device-bound copy from this PC. |
| Microsoft Password Manager | Removes the Microsoft-managed synced copy. |
| Google Password Manager | Removes the Google-managed copy, potentially across devices using that Google account. |
| 1Password, Bitwarden, Proton Pass, or another manager | Must be deleted inside that provider. |
| The website or online account | Removes that registered authentication method from the service. |
| A work or school security dashboard | Removes the organization’s registered method, subject to administrator policy. |
Remove a Microsoft-account passkey
Personal Microsoft account
- Open the Microsoft account security dashboard.
- Open the account’s sign-in or security methods.
- Expand the passkey entry.
- Review its storage location and last-used information.
- Select Remove.
Removing it from the dashboard revokes that registered credential. It is separate from deleting the local Windows copy and from deleting a copy in Microsoft Password Manager. Confirm that another sign-in or recovery method works first. Microsoft warns that removing all security information can place a personal account into a 30-day restricted-security state.
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Work or school Microsoft account
Open My Sign-ins Security info, remove the organization’s passkey, and then delete the local copy from Windows or the provider where it was saved. An administrator may prevent users from removing or managing the credential.
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Remove a Google passkey used on Windows
Google Password Manager
- Open Chrome.
- Select More.
- Select Passwords and autofill > Google Password Manager.
- Find and open the passkey entry.
- Delete it.
Google Password Manager can synchronize passkeys across devices signed in to the same Google account. Deleting a Windows Hello-only passkey is therefore different from deleting a Google Password Manager copy. Chrome’s current guidance is in Google Password Manager help.
Google Account registration
If your goal is to stop the Google Account from accepting that credential, also review the account’s passkey list and remove the registered passkey. Google’s passkey guidance explains that the correct removal location depends on the provider where the passkey is stored.
Remove a passkey from Microsoft Edge
- Open Edge and select Settings and more (…).
- Select Settings > Passwords and autofill.
- Open Microsoft Password Manager.
- Search for the website or account.
- Open the entry and delete the passkey.
Edge may store passkeys in Microsoft Password Manager rather than Windows Hello. Labels can change between Edge releases. Microsoft describes Edge passkey storage in its Edge passkeys documentation.
Stop Edge from automatically creating passkeys
Deleting an existing passkey does not stop future creation prompts. In Edge, go to Settings > Passwords and autofill > Microsoft Password Manager > More settings, then turn off Automatically upgrade to passkeys.
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This controls Edge’s automatic upgrade of some saved-password sign-ins; it does not prevent every website from offering passkey creation manually. Do not use registry edits, browser flags, or credential-folder deletion as a general passkey fix.
If “Passkeys” is missing from Settings
- Check that the PC is running a supported Windows 11 build and has current cumulative updates. Native management is documented from Windows 11 version 22H2 with KB5030310.
- Check Edge, Chrome, or another password manager. The credential may not be stored by Windows.
- Check the website or account’s security settings.
- For a work or school account, check the organization’s security-info portal.
- Ask whether an administrator has disabled passkey management.
Do not confuse Settings > Privacy & security > Passkey access with the deletion screen. Passkey access controls whether apps may access passkeys; it is not normally where individual credentials are deleted.
If Windows will not let you delete the passkey
The entry may be controlled by a password manager, required by an organization, or associated with another Windows security function. Try this order:
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- Add and test another sign-in method.
- Remove the credential from the online account’s security dashboard.
- Delete it from the provider where it is actually stored.
- Check work or school policy and contact IT if the device is managed.
Do not delete the NGC folder, reset all Windows Hello credentials, or modify the registry merely to remove one website passkey. Those actions can affect unrelated Windows Hello functions and are not Microsoft’s normal consumer support path.
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When the passkey still appears
A sign-in prompt can show credentials from multiple sources. Check whether the prompt refers to:
- A Windows Hello passkey on this PC.
- Microsoft or Google Password Manager.
- A third-party manager such as 1Password, Bitwarden, or Proton Pass.
- A phone or tablet being used through a QR code or nearby-device flow.
- A hardware security key.
Deleting the Windows entry does not delete a phone’s passkey or reset a security key. Multiple passkeys can also exist for the same website; remove only the obsolete device unless you intend to revoke every one.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Before selling, recycling, or resetting the PC
- Create and test a replacement sign-in method.
- Remove the old PC’s passkey from each relevant account.
- Delete local entries from Settings > Accounts > Passkeys.
- Sign out of browsers and password managers.
- Remove personal accounts from Windows.
- Use Reset this PC with the option to remove personal files when transferring ownership.
- Review account device lists and revoke the old PC where the service provides that option.
A Windows reset protects local data; it does not necessarily revoke an authentication method registered with an online service. Complete both steps.
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You do not need to buy software to delete a passkey. Windows Hello, Microsoft Password Manager, and Google Password Manager can cover many users. A synced manager can make cross-device recovery and migration easier, while a device-bound Windows Hello passkey avoids cloud synchronization but may be unrecoverable after loss, reset, or reinstallation. Google specifically notes that Windows Hello passkeys are not backed up by Google Password Manager.
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If you choose an independent provider, Bitwarden advertises a free plan with passkey support; 1Password is a paid cross-platform option; and Proton Pass offers free and paid plans with a Windows app. These products are relevant for synchronization and centralized management, not required for deleting one Windows passkey. Review the providers’ current terms and pricing before signing up: Bitwarden, 1Password, and Proton Pass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a Windows passkey delete it from my Microsoft account?
No. It removes the local Windows copy. Remove the registered credential separately from the Microsoft account security dashboard if you want to revoke it.
Can I delete a passkey without deleting my Windows Hello PIN?
Yes. Use the individual entry under Settings > Accounts > Passkeys. Do not reset Windows Hello broadly.
Can I recover a deleted Windows Hello passkey?
Usually you should plan to create a new passkey rather than recover the deleted device-bound credential, especially after a reset or device loss.
What is the difference between a passkey and a Windows Hello PIN?
A Windows Hello PIN unlocks the device’s security system. A passkey is an account sign-in credential that may be stored by Windows, a browser, a password manager, a phone, or a security key.
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