The Introduction of Passkeys #

We wanted to make you aware of an important security update from Google that may affect how you access and use your Google Ads account.

Passkeys are now a mandatory requirement from Google for signing in to access and perform certain actions in Google Ads accounts.

A passkey is a secure digital credential that provides an alternative to using a traditional password and is created by the passkey provider you choose to save it with. That might be your device, Google Password Manager, or 1Password etc. 

When you use a passkey, you may be asked to confirm that it’s you using your fingerprint, Face ID, device PIN or another security method.

Your fingerprint, Face ID or PIN is not the passkey itself. It is simply used to verify your identity and authorise the use of the passkey.

Passkeys are designed to make accounts more secure and significantly reduce the risk of passwords being stolen or used in phishing attacks.

Your passkey should be kept secure and should never be shared with PPC Geeks. We will never ask you for your Google password or passkey.

Where is a passkey stored? #

A passkey can be stored directly on a device or in a compatible password/passkey manager.

If you save a passkey directly to a particular device, you may need to create additional passkeys for other devices you use.

Alternatively, some password managers can securely store and sync passkeys across authorised devices. For example, we use 1Password at PPC Geeks Ltd to securely store our work passkeys.

When you use the passkey, you may still be asked to verify your identity using your fingerprint, Face ID, device PIN or another security method. This authorises the use of the passkey rather than acting as the passkey itself.

If a shared email address is used by multiple people, you should make sure everyone who needs access has an appropriate and secure way of using the account’s passkey, or consider using a secure company password/passkey management solution.

Multiple Google Ads admins #

If your Google Ads account is accessed by more than one person, it is also worth considering having at least two admins set up with working passkeys.

We have found that some Google Ads actions can require two admins to sign off on an action, with one person requesting it and another approving it. This may also apply to your account.

Having two admins with working passkeys also means there is someone else available to approve actions if one person is away.

What do I need to do? #

If you don’t already have a passkey, you can set one up from your Google Account:

• Sign in to the Google account you use to access Google Ads.
• Go to your Google Account → Security.
• Find Passkeys and security keys.
• Select Create a passkey.
• Follow the instructions provided by Google.
• When prompted, choose where you would like to save the passkey. Depending on your setup, this may be your device or a compatible password/passkey manager.
• Complete any identity verification requested, such as your fingerprint, Face ID or device PIN.

Remember, your fingerprint, Face ID or PIN is used to authorise the creation or use of the passkey. It is not the passkey itself.

Here’s a short video guide: Setting Up Your Passkey #

Allow time for Google to recognise your passkey #

It may take a few days before a newly created passkey can be used for sign-in or certain actions. Google’s current guidance says you may need to wait up to 7 days before a newly created passkey is available at sign-in.

In our experience, the new passkey can often sync with Google within 24 hours, although this can vary depending on the account and device.

For this reason, we recommend setting up your passkey as soon as possible rather than waiting until you need to approve an important action.

A few things to remember #

• Passkeys are mandatory for certain Google Ads actions.
• A passkey is a secure digital credential. Your fingerprint, Face ID or device PIN is used to authorise its use, but is not the passkey itself.
• Passkeys can be stored on a device or in a compatible password/passkey manager.
• You can have multiple passkeys on your Google account.
• If you use multiple devices, make sure you have an appropriate way to access your passkey on each device you use.
• If a shared email address is used by multiple people, consider using a secure company password/passkey management solution.
• If your account has multiple admins, we recommend that at least two admins have working passkeys.
• Never share your Google password or passkey with PPC Geeks or anyone else.

If you have any problems accessing your Google Ads account, setting up a passkey or approving an action, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help.