Disable Passkey Button In Keycloak: A Simple Guide

by Alex Johnson 51 views

Hey there! If you've recently upgraded to Keycloak 26.4, you might have noticed a shiny new "Sign in with Passkey" button popping up on your login page. While passkeys are the future of secure authentication, you might not be quite ready to roll them out. Maybe your app needs a bit more prep work, or you're just not ready to make the switch. Whatever the reason, you're probably wondering: How can I disable this button? Let's dive into how you can easily hide that button until you're ready to embrace the passkey revolution.

Why Disable the "Sign in with Passkey" Button?

Before we jump into the how-to, let's chat about why you might want to disable this button. Your Keycloak instance is likely used by various applications, and if passkeys are not yet implemented in all of them, the presence of a non-functional button can be confusing. The "Sign in with Passkey" button appearing before you're ready can lead to a less-than-ideal user experience. Users might click it expecting something to happen, only to be met with a dead end. This can create confusion, frustration, and a general feeling of a less polished product. By disabling the button until your application is passkey-ready, you can maintain a cleaner, more intuitive user interface. This is especially important for enterprise apps and those with a wide user base where every detail must be perfect.

Value Proposition: Enhancing User Experience

By taking the time to disable the passkey button, you're prioritizing the user experience. You're removing a potential point of confusion and ensuring that your login page provides a seamless experience for your users. A clean and uncluttered interface communicates that you pay attention to detail and value user experience. This, in turn, builds trust and increases user satisfaction. When users trust the interface, they are more likely to use it, come back, and recommend it to others. A well-designed user experience is a crucial part of any application's success.

The Goal: A Simple Way to Disable the Button

Your main goal is a straightforward way to disable the "Sign in with Passkey" button. There shouldn't be a complex process. You're looking for a quick and easy way to hide it until you're ready to enable passkey authentication. This is about making a simple change to improve the overall user experience. Ideally, there is a simple configuration option that allows you to control the button's visibility. This option should be easy to find and configure. This will reduce your implementation time and allow you to stay focused on other critical features.

The Non-Goal: Avoiding Complex Configurations

It's important to clarify what you don't want. You're not looking for a complex, time-consuming solution. You're not looking to dive into the code base or create custom themes. The goal is to disable the button without a ton of hassle. You're looking for simplicity and efficiency. This will allow you to maintain your focus on other critical project aspects.

Step-by-Step Guide to Disabling the Button (Possible Solutions)

Unfortunately, as of Keycloak 26.4, there isn't a single, readily available toggle directly in the Keycloak admin console to disable the passkey button. However, there are a few workarounds that you can use to achieve the desired outcome. These are not ideal, but they will work.

1. Custom Theme Modification

Keycloak uses themes to control the look and feel of its login pages. You can modify the default theme to remove the passkey button. This involves a few steps:

  • Create a Custom Theme: If you haven't already, create a custom theme based on the existing Keycloak theme. This allows you to make changes without modifying the default theme, making it easier to upgrade Keycloak in the future.
  • Locate the Login Page Template: Within your custom theme, find the HTML template for the login page. This is usually located in a directory structure like themes/<your_theme>/login/. The specific file name might vary depending on the Keycloak version, but it's typically an HTML file.
  • Identify the Passkey Button Element: Inspect the HTML code to find the element that renders the "Sign in with Passkey" button. You'll likely see a <button>, <div>, or another HTML element with an associated class or ID. Find the exact element that renders the button you want to hide.
  • Hide the Element: Add CSS to your theme to hide the button. You can add a CSS style rule to the button's element. A simple display: none; style rule will hide the button. Or you can use a more specific CSS selector if there are several buttons on the page. You can add this CSS to the same HTML file, or create a separate CSS file and link it to your HTML file.
  • Deploy the Theme: Deploy your custom theme to your Keycloak server and configure your realm to use this custom theme for the login page. Now, when your users visit the login page, the button should be hidden.

This method gives you the most control but requires understanding HTML and CSS and a bit more effort. However, it's also a flexible method that allows you to customize more than just hiding the button.

2. Using JavaScript to Hide the Button

If modifying the HTML is too cumbersome, you can use JavaScript to hide the button after the page loads:

  • Add JavaScript to the Login Page: Similar to the custom theme approach, you'll need to locate the login page HTML template. Add a <script> tag within the HTML template. The script should run after the page loads.
  • Write the JavaScript: Inside the script tag, write JavaScript code to find the button element using its ID, class, or other selectors. Then, set the style.display property to "none". For example, document.getElementById("passkey-button").style.display = "none";. This will hide the button.
  • Deploy the Theme: Save the modified HTML template and deploy your theme to the Keycloak server.

This method is quick, but it's less ideal than using CSS. JavaScript depends on the page loading completely, so there might be a brief flicker before the button disappears.

3. Feature Request or Future Keycloak Updates

Consider submitting a feature request to the Keycloak community. Suggesting a simple toggle in the admin console to disable the passkey button could benefit other users. Also, keep an eye on future Keycloak releases. The developers might add a configuration option to disable the button in later versions.

Important Considerations

When using any of the above methods, keep these considerations in mind:

  • Backups: Before making any changes, back up your Keycloak configuration and theme files. This allows you to revert to the previous state if anything goes wrong.
  • Testing: Thoroughly test your changes to ensure the button is hidden and that the login page functions as expected.
  • Updates: When you update Keycloak, review your custom theme or JavaScript changes. You might need to adjust them to align with the new Keycloak version.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Login Page

Disabling the "Sign in with Passkey" button in Keycloak is a straightforward task, even though there isn't a direct toggle in the admin console. The most reliable methods involve modifying the login page template with custom CSS or JavaScript. These methods provide the necessary control to hide the button and maintain a clean user interface. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily remove the button and create a more user-friendly login experience. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can control your login page and provide the best possible experience for your users. As you move forward, consider staying updated on future Keycloak releases for any configuration options that might simplify the process in the future. Remember that the ultimate goal is to provide a seamless and intuitive login experience for your users.

For more in-depth information about Keycloak and its capabilities, visit the official Keycloak documentation. This site has all the information about how to set up Keycloak and customize it according to your needs. This is your go-to resource for detailed information.

If you want to delve deeper into Keycloak, I recommend checking out the official Keycloak documentation: Keycloak Documentation. It's a goldmine of information!"