r/AndroidQuestions • u/neopolitan77 • 12h ago

Other How to remove autocreated Passkey?

I got some strange notifications about activities on my Google account that I didn't recognize so I figured best change the password. I did it on my phone and it was confusing enough that I inadvertently created a Passkey as well. I can see it listed under Passkeys now but there's no option to remove it. In the help section it says that in order to remove an autogenerated Passkey I need to go to All Devices and log out that device. Which isn't what I want to do, but ok. The problem is, it doesn't just show a list of devices but like a dozen sessions for my phone. The Help explains that I need to log out from all sessions, but the problem is that there is one session (labeled 'active') where there is no logout option. If I log out of all the other sessions, the Passkey is still listed under Passkeys and it's prompted when I need log in to my account. How can I actually remove the Passkey?

PS: Please help me find an answer and don't berate me for wanting to remove the Passkey. I know what Passkeys are, about Phishing resistance, I also use them (even on the same account), but I have my reasons for wanting to remove that particular one.

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u/ohmegatchi 11h ago

Are you trying to log out from the web interface on the device you want to log out from?

Try logging out on your phone, usually Settings>Accounts (or Accounts and Backup)>Manage Accounts, then remove that Google account.

Then log back in. The device should no longer be a trusted device.

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u/neopolitan77 11h ago

I went through settings > account and clicked  through to the account manager there, which opens another window. There is a button Remove Account in the settings window as well, I could try that. Just to double check, it's the main account I also use for Play Store, in the Samsung Email app and everything else on the phone. Removing it seems a bit scary, I hope there won't be any unintended consequences? Will I be able to immediately add it back and have everything work as before (except for the Passkey being removed)?

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u/ohmegatchi 11h ago

Be sure you go into your Google Security Settings: https://myaccount.google.com/security and toggle off "Skip password when possible." (That might fix your issue without needing to log off.)

Just log right back in to your Google account after logging out through the same settings. That was what you were looking to do anyways.

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u/neopolitan77 11h ago

So I tried it (twice) now, removing and adding it back doesn't seem to affect the phone (Play Store), but I can't seem to get rid of the Passkey. Both if I look at the account in settings after adding it back and when I log in in the browser while logged out - it still lists an active session with the Passkey name under devices, and if I try to log out of that I'm prompted for the Passkey (even though I'm already logged in), and even if I click Cancel > Select other method it only lists Passkey as an option. Even though I have 2FA enabled with a phone number and a recovery email address. If I look at Passkeys before doing that, I'm also prompted the same way. After I've used the Passkey, it shows up under Passkeys. Skip password if possible was set to off before removing the account.