Got a new phone, lost your old one, or switching between Android and iOS? Your MPChat Passkey is tied to your device and OS-level account (iCloud Keychain / Google Password Manager) — it doesn't automatically travel with you. This article walks through two decision points — "same OS ecosystem or not" and "temporary swap or permanent switch" — so you pick the right path, including a scan-only option that needs no reset, and what the 24-hour restriction after reset actually covers.
What to do with your MPChat Passkey after switching phones or devices
Each MPChat account keeps exactly one Passkey at a time — "reset" replaces the old one, it does not add a second Passkey alongside it. What you should do next depends on two things: whether your old and new device are on the same OS ecosystem (iOS to iOS, Android to Android, or crossing between Android and iOS), and whether this device switch is temporary or permanent.
Check first: switching within the same OS, you may need to do nothing
If you're moving from one iPhone to another signed into the same Apple ID with iCloud Keychain enabled, or from one Android phone to another signed into the same Google account with Google Password Manager enabled, your Passkey usually syncs to the new device automatically. Just open MPChat and try to sign in or verify a sensitive action — if a biometric prompt appears, you're already set, no extra steps needed. Manual handling is only required when you cross ecosystems (Android to iOS or vice versa) or haven't enabled OS-level sync.
Then decide: is this switch temporary, or will you use the new device permanently?
If you're only borrowing a device briefly, or your old phone is still with you, do not reset your Passkey — reset immediately triggers the 24-hour fund restriction described below. In that case, use the cross-device scan method below instead. Only reset once your old device is genuinely gone, or you've decided to permanently use the new one.
Case 1: both devices support cross-device verification — scan with your old device
This works for Android-to-iOS, iOS-to-Android, or same-OS setups without cloud sync enabled: on the new device's verification screen, choose "A key on another device," then scan the QR code with the device that still holds your Passkey to complete a one-time verification.
Open MPChat on the new device and go to sign-in or a step that requires verification. The system shows "No sign-in available" because the new device has no local Passkey.
Tap A key on another device — a QR code appears.
Scan it with your old device and complete a biometric confirmation there.
The new device is verified and you're signed in / the action completes.
Note: scanning only borrows your old device to complete this one verification — the Passkey itself stays on the old device and is not transferred or copied to the new one. If you later stop using the old device too, you'll still need to go through reset to generate a fresh Passkey on the new device.
Case 2: the new device can't do cross-device verification — switch verification method
If cross-device scanning isn't possible (for example your old device was already reset, deregistered, or is no longer with you), switch to another sign-in method from the verification screen:
On the Passkey verification screen, tap Change verification method.
Complete sign-in with your password, a phone code, or an email code.
Once signed in, decide next: if this is temporary, leave your Passkey alone; if you're switching permanently, continue to reset below.
Switching devices for good? Reset your Passkey in Security Center
Reset invalidates the Passkey on your old device and generates a brand-new one on your current device. The whole flow requires a face-liveness check to confirm it's really you.
Go to Profile → Security Center → Passkey (Biometrics) and tap Reset Passkey.
Confirm on the second confirmation dialog.
Read the "Security Reminder" pop-up — it explicitly lists which features get disabled for 24 hours after reset — then tap Continue once you've reviewed it.
Complete face-liveness verification: keep the lighting even and remove hats, glasses, or masks.
Once verified, the system generates a new Passkey on your current device. The list screen shows the new device name and creation time — that's your confirmation the reset succeeded.
For face-verification failure handling, the KYC prerequisite, and the daily verification limit, see How to reset your MPChat Passkey.
3 things to know before you reset
Only one Passkey per account. Reset replaces the old Passkey — it does not create a second one alongside it.
KYC must be completed first. Accounts without identity verification are blocked from resetting and will be guided to complete KYC first.
Withdrawals, transfers, and red packets are disabled for 24 hours after a successful reset. Chatting, receiving red packets, viewing card details, and card spending are not affected, and everything resumes automatically after 24 hours — no action needed.
Switching between Android and iOS — do I need to create a new Passkey?
Yes. iCloud Keychain and Google Password Manager don't share credentials across platforms, so a Passkey never travels automatically when you cross ecosystems. Use cross-device scanning for a temporary sign-in first, then reset once you've decided to permanently use the new device — that generates a Passkey tied to it.
Is the Passkey on my old device still valid after I switch to a new one?
Yes, as long as you haven't reset it — that's also the prerequisite for cross-device scanning to work at all. Once you complete a reset on the new device, the old device's Passkey is invalidated and can no longer verify or be scanned.
I'm just borrowing a friend's phone to sign in — do I need to reset my Passkey?
No. For a temporary sign-in, use cross-device scanning or "Change verification method" (password / phone / email). This doesn't affect the Passkey on your own device and won't trigger the 24-hour fund restriction. Reset is only for permanently switching to a new device.
My face verification passed but the new Passkey never got created — what happened?
Passing face-liveness alone doesn't complete the reset. If you don't finish binding the new Passkey within 10 minutes of a successful face check, the system discards that verification and you'll need to start the reset flow again. See How to reset your MPChat Passkey for details.
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