Available MFA types for a root user - Amazon Identity and Access Management
Passkeys and security keysVirtual authenticator applicationsHardware TOTP tokens
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Available MFA types for a root user

Amazon supports the following MFA types for your root user: passkeys and security keys, virtual authenticator applications, and hardware TOTP tokens.

Passkeys and security keys

Amazon Identity and Access Management supports passkeys and security keys for MFA. Based on FIDO standards, passkeys use public key cryptography to provide strong, phishing-resistant authentication that is more secure than passwords. Amazon supports two types of passkeys: device-bound passkeys (security keys) and synced passkeys.

  • Security keys: These are physical devices, like a YubiKey, used as a second factor for authentication. A single security key can support multiple root user accounts and IAM users.

  • Synced passkeys: These use credential managers from providers such as Google, Apple, Microsoft accounts, and third-party services like 1Password, Dashlane, and Bitwarden as a second factor.

You can use built-in biometric authenticators, like Touch ID on Apple MacBooks, to unlock your credential manager and sign in to Amazon. Passkeys are created with your chosen provider using your fingerprint, face, or device PIN. You can sync passkeys across your devices to facilitate sign-ins with Amazon, enhancing usability and recoverability.

IAM does not support local passkey registration for Windows Hello. To create and use passkeys, Windows users should use cross-device authentication where you use a passkey from one device like a mobile device or hardware security key to sign in on another device like a laptop. The FIDO Alliance maintains a list of all FIDO Certified products that are compatible with FIDO specifications. For more information about enabling passkeys and security keys, see Enable a passkey or security key for the Amazon Web Services account root user (console).

Virtual authenticator applications

A virtual authenticator application runs on a phone or other device and emulates a physical device. Virtual authenticator apps implement the time-based one-time password (TOTP) algorithm and support multiple tokens on a single device. The user must type a valid code from the device when prompted during sign-in. Each token assigned to a user must be unique. A user can't type a code from another user's token to authenticate.

We do recommend that you use a virtual MFA device while waiting for hardware purchase approval or while you wait for your hardware to arrive. For a list of a few supported apps that you can use as virtual MFA devices, see Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). For instructions on setting up a virtual MFA device with Amazon, see Enable a virtual MFA device for your Amazon Web Services account root user (console).

Hardware TOTP tokens

A hardware device generates a six-digit numeric code based on the time-based one-time password (TOTP) algorithm. The user must type a valid code from the device on a second webpage during sign-in. Each MFA device assigned to a user must be unique. A user cannot type a code from another user's device to be authenticated. For information on supported hardware MFA devices, see Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). For instructions on setting up a hardware TOTP token with Amazon, see Enable a hardware TOTP token for the Amazon Web Services account root user (console).

If you want to use a physical MFA device, we recommend that you use FIDO security keys as an alternative to hardware TOTP devices. FIDO security keys offer the benefits of no battery requirements, phishing resistance, and they support multiple root and IAM users on a single device for enhanced security.