Passwords have been the usual answer to ‘prove this account is yours’ for a long time. They are also easy to forget, reuse, or type into a convincing fake website. That is why services are adding other ways to sign in.
One option is a passkey. It lets you approve sign-in with the same screen lock you use on a device, such as a fingerprint, face scan, or PIN. Another common option is a prompt sent to an app or device you already use. The details differ between services, so there is no single switch that makes every password disappear.
What changes for you
You may be offered a new sign-in method while updating an account. Read which account and device the prompt names. If you were not trying to sign in, do not approve a request just to make the notification go away.
Some sites keep a password as a backup, and some offer several recovery methods. A strong new sign-in method will not help much if an easy recovery path lets someone else into the account. Keep your recovery email and phone number current and protect them too.
Take it one account at a time
You do not need to replace every password this week. Start with an important account, such as email. Look at its sign-in and recovery settings while you are calm, not while you are locked out.