Firefox 66 for Desktop will add support for Windows Hello authentication in Windows 10. At the time of this writing, the browser is on version 65 of the stable branch, so the Windows Hello feature will be included in the next release of Firefox that is expected on March 19, 2019.
Windows Hello is an integrated biometric system for passwordless authentication on Windows devices. Windows Hello signs in the user after face recognition. Users can additionally sign in with their fingerprints, or their eyeballs, using iris recognition. Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, including a fingerprint reader, an illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors and capable devices.
You can enable Windows Hello in Windows 10 by opening the Settings app and visiting the page Accounts > Sign-in options. There, you need to select the type of authentication you want to use. Keep in mind that Windows shows here only those methods of authentication that are supported by your device.
Microsoft allows developers to integrate Windows Hello in third-party apps for faster authentication. Also, the default web browser of Windows 10, Microsoft Edge, already supports Windows Hello authentication. Mozilla is now preparing a feature update for Firefox.
Starting in version 66, Mozilla Firefox will allow you to log in to your web sites and services by scanning your face or fingerprint using Windows Hello. For example, you can use facial recognition and fingerprint sensor to sign into Microsoft's OneDrive, or Outlook.com.
So, with the availability of Windows Hello, you will be able to log in to web sites and use web apps without typing your passwords. If you have a compatible Windows 10 device, you can try the feature in action by installing the beta version of the browser. It can be installed alongside the stable release or Nightly. For reference, check out the following articles:
- Run different Firefox versions simultaneously
- Firefox 67: Individual Profiles for Simultaneously Installed Versions
That's it. Image credit: @ericlaw
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