Passwords have long been the weakest link in web application security. With the release of .NET 10, ASP.NET Core Identity introduces built-in passkey support, making WebAuthn and FIDO2 first-class citizens in the framework rather than third-party add-ons. Users can now authenticate using biometrics, hardware keys, or device PINs instead of passwords.
What the Implementation Looks Like
The Blazor Web App template ships with passkey registration and login out of the box. Users can create accounts without ever setting a password. The framework handles credential storage, challenge generation, and assertion verification through ASP.NET Core Identity’s existing infrastructure.
A Meaningful Design Choice
Passkeys are treated as a primary authentication factor, not just a second factor tacked onto password login. This signals that Microsoft sees passwordless as the default path forward, not an add-on. It is a shift in how authentication is architected at the framework level.
Key Considerations Before Adoption
- Only the Blazor Web App template includes passkey UI components today. Other project types require manual integration.
- Attestation statements are not validated by default. If your compliance requirements demand device attestation, you will need fido2-net-lib alongside the built-in support.
- The implementation is scoped to Identity scenarios and is not a general-purpose WebAuthn library.
Takeaway
For teams building customer-facing applications, built-in passkey support removes one of the biggest friction points in authentication. Phishing-resistant login with zero password resets is now achievable without third-party dependencies. If your project runs on .NET 10 and uses Blazor, passwordless authentication is ready to adopt today.
