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Introduction: Apple’s Next Step in Passwordless Authentication

Apple continues driving the shift toward passwordless authentication with the introduction of the Apple Passkey Account Creation API in iOS 26, as well as on iPadOS, macOS and visionOS. By empowering developers to offer true passwordless sign-up flows, this update supports both stronger security and drastically improved user experience for app onboarding.

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What Is the Passkey Account Creation API?

The Passkey Account Creation API lets developers build apps with a native, system-provided user registration process that requires no passwords. Instead of filling out lengthy forms, users see a concise sign-up sheet which automatically offers pre-filled personal details, such as name, email or phone number — sourced straight from their device. After a Face ID, Touch ID or passcode confirmation, the user’s new passkey is generated and their account is instantly protected with a phishing-resistant credential.

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How Does Passkey-Based Sign-Up Work?

With Apple’s API, the authentication process becomes seamless:

1. The app invokes the system sheet for new account creation.
2. The user reviews and confirms their details.
3. A device-generated passkey is created, storing the private key in iCloud Keychain (or supported third-party manager like Dashlane or 1Password) and sending the public key to your back end.
4. The user is instantly onboarded and logged in, with no password to remember or leak.

This method uses public key cryptography, ensuring only the user’s device can authenticate, offering both security and convenience.

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Integrating Passkey Account Creation Using AuthenticationServices Framework

Developers implement the Passkey Account Creation API using the AuthenticationServices framework — specifically, with the ASAuthorizationAccountCreationProvider class. Key parameters include which contact identifiers (email, phone number) your app requires, whether to request user name, your app domain, a server-generated challenge, and a new user ID. The resulting workflow not only streamlines onboarding but also ensures all sensitive data is handled according to the highest Apple developer security standards.

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Best Practices and Edge Cases

To provide a consistently smooth onboarding, it’s important to handle certain scenarios:

• If the device isn’t set up for secure authentication (e.g. no device passcode), fall back to traditional registration.
• If a user already has an account (for example, via ‘Sign in with Apple’), guide them to the appropriate flow to prevent duplicates.
• Offer automatic sign-in prompts and check for existing credentials whenever the app launches.

Testing fallbacks and unusual paths ensures passkey onboarding doesn’t break your sign-up funnel.

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Benefits after implementing Passkeys

For those focused on user experience and security, Apple’s Passkey Account Creation API brings several advantages:

• Frictionless onboarding can meaningfully boost sign-up conversion rates.
• Phishing-resistant credentials greatly reduce your users’ exposure to common attacks.
• Cross-device iCloud Keychain sync ensures users have access to their credentials across all Apple devices.
• The API handles much of the heavy lifting around authentication, so you can focus on building great app experiences.

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Conclusion: A Strategic Move Toward Passwordless Sign-Up

Apple’s iOS 26 Passkey Account Creation API offers everything needed to build a seamless, passwordless onboarding flow for your apps and services. With users demanding better security and convenience and with the growing adoption of passkeys in the industry, now is the time to integrate this feature into your authentication strategy.

Find out more, including detailed code samples and advanced use cases, on our blog: https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-account-creation-api