---
title: Configuring PingID desktop app authentication
description: There are two versions of the PingID desktop app, only one of which can be managed from the PingID admin console.
component: pingid
page_id: pingid:pingid_service_management:pid_desktop_app_authentication
canonical_url: http://docs.pingidentity.com/pingid/pingid_service_management/pid_desktop_app_authentication.html
revdate: April 21, 2026
section_ids:
  pingid-desktop-app: PingID desktop app
  pingid-desktop-app-legacy: PingID desktop app (legacy)
---

# Configuring PingID desktop app authentication

There are two versions of the PingID desktop app, only one of which can be managed from the PingID admin console.

## **PingID desktop app**

The latest **PingID desktop app** is only available for PingID accounts managed out of PingOne. It provides users with a consistent passwordless authentication experience across different browsers from a Mac or Windows machine using the machine's device biometrics.

PingID desktop app must be configured in PingOne, and installed on each user's machine (Mac or Windows) by an administrator.

* Learn more in [PingID desktop app](http://docs.pingidentity.com/pingone/strong_authentication_mfa/p1_pid_desktop_app_start.html) in the PingOne documentation.

* Learn how to [configure a PingFederate policy for a consistent passwordless authentication experience](../pingid_integrations/pid_configuring_pf_policy_for_passwordless_authentication.html).

## **PingID desktop app (legacy)**

The **PingID desktop app (legacy)** is a one-time passcode (OTP) generator that can users can install on their PC or Mac. It's available for PingID accounts managed through PingOne environment and is also available for PingID accounts managed through the PingID admin console (where it is still named **PingID desktop app**).

* Learn more about managing **PingID desktop app (legacy)** through the PingID admin console in [PingID desktop app authentication (legacy)](pid_desktop_app_authentication_legacy.html).

* To understand more about the different desktop app versions, go to [Learn about the different PingID desktop app versions](http://docs.pingidentity.com/pingone/strong_authentication_mfa/p1_pid_desktop_app_version_overview.html) in the PingOne documentation.