Target pushes passkeys for faster, safer access across internal apps

If you have ever burned time on a password reset before checking your schedule, pay, or training, Target’s passkey push is aimed at making that first step disappear. The company says the new login method reaches hundreds of internal apps, including Workday, Target Pay & Benefits, and Greenfield, and is meant to replace repeated password typing with a touch or glance.

What changes at login

For team members, this is not just a security upgrade in the abstract. It is a practical change to the daily rhythm of work, especially for anyone who moves between multiple internal tools during a shift. Target’s own guidance says passkeys can cut down on lockouts, reduce support calls, and make access easier on Target-owned devices, which matters when schedules, pay, and training all live behind separate logins.

The upside is simple: fewer password prompts means fewer interruptions. In a retail environment where managers, hourly workers, and ETLs may all be jumping between systems throughout the day, shaving off a login hurdle can save real time and reduce the kind of frustration that leads people to reuse weak passwords across work and personal accounts.

How Target says passkeys work

Target describes passkeys as a password-free sign-in method that uses Face ID, fingerprint recognition, or a device PIN. Under the hood, the company says passkeys rely on public key cryptography, with the private key stored securely on the device rather than in a password database. Target also says biometric information never leaves the device.

That setup is the key security distinction. Target says passkeys are stored locally, encrypted, and unique to each user, which means they are not exposed in the same way passwords are when someone writes them down, repeats them across sites, or gets tricked into handing them over. Target still allows password sign-in if you prefer it, so this is not a forced all-or-nothing switch.

Where workers will feel it most

The biggest day-to-day benefit is in the places team members already go for routine tasks. Target’s Team Member Services Hub brings Workday, Pay & Benefits, Bullseye Shop, and W2 tax statements into one place, which makes it obvious why login friction matters so much. If you are checking a schedule, pulling a pay statement, or grabbing tax documents, the last thing you want is a multi-step authentication delay.

Target says passkeys are built to work across hundreds of internal apps, not just one or two high-traffic tools. That means the change is broader than a single portal update. It is a push to make access smoother across the company’s internal ecosystem, from employee services to back-office systems that support stores, supply chain, and corporate teams.

For store leaders, the practical payoff is fewer interruptions when someone needs to get into a system quickly on the floor or in the back room. For team members, it can mean less time trapped in login loops and less need to call for help over something as basic as credentials.

What to know if you use your own device

Target’s support materials say passkeys are created after you sign in with a password first, then use the device or browser biometric prompt to finish setup. The company says the supported browsers include Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari on iPhone, Samsung Internet, and Chrome on Android.

If you use myTime on a personal device, Target says that use is entirely voluntary and not required. The company also notes that the same information is available on Target computers, which matters for anyone who would rather keep work access on company hardware. If questions remain, Target directs team members to their HR partner.

Target also provides a secure password-reset page and a separate change-password page, giving workers a self-service path when they get locked out or need to update credentials. That matters because in the real world, even a small login problem can stop a worker from checking a shift, confirming benefits, or finishing a task that cannot wait until later.

Why Target is moving now

Target is not inventing passkeys on its own. The broader market is moving in the same direction, and the numbers help explain why. The FIDO Alliance said in December 2024 that more than 15 billion online accounts could use passkeys, up from about 7 billion a year earlier. It also said consumer awareness rose from 39% in 2022 to 57% in 2024, while 53% of people said they had enabled passkeys on at least one account and 61% believed they were more secure than passwords.

Google has made a similar case. In April 2024, it said passkeys had been used more than 1 billion times across more than 400 million Google Accounts and were 50% faster than passwords. Microsoft has also leaned into passwordless access as part of its broader strategy. Target is moving in the same direction as those platforms, which suggests this is becoming a mainstream login standard rather than a one-off company experiment.

The scale at Target makes that shift more consequential. The company says it operates 2,000 stores, 66 supply chain facilities, two corporate campuses in Minnesota, additional offices, and employs more than 14,000 corporate team members. When a company that large trims even a small amount of sign-in friction, the effect can spread quickly across stores, supply chain, and headquarters.

For team members, the bottom line is straightforward: if the rollout works as designed, the next login to Workday, Pay & Benefits, or another internal tool should feel less like a barrier and more like a quick security check. That is the kind of change people notice not in a memo, but the moment they get back into their work without a password headache.