MunshiAfter you sign in once with an SMS code, Munshi lets you create a passkey (your fingerprint, face or screen lock) or set a 6-digit sign-in PIN, so on a new phone you can sign in without waiting for an SMS code. The SMS code stays available whenever you want it. This guide explains how each option works, and how they differ from the App Lock PIN you may already use.
Why bother?
SMS codes can be slow when the signal is weak, and they are easy to miss when you are changing phones or busy at the counter. A passkey or PIN gets you into your khata quickly, and it matters most exactly when you replace or reset a phone.
Three ways to sign in
| Way | What you do | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| SMS code | Enter your number, then the 6-digit code we text you | Always works; the first sign-in |
| Passkey | Use your fingerprint, face or screen lock | Fastest on a phone that supports it |
| Sign-in PIN | Enter your number and your 6-digit PIN | New phones, or when you prefer a PIN |
How to set it up
- Sign in with your number and the SMS code, as usual.
- Munshi offers a choice: “Sign in with your fingerprint next time?” to create a passkey, and “Skip the SMS next time?” to set a PIN. Accept either, or both.
- For a passkey, confirm with your fingerprint or face. It is saved in your Google or Apple account, so it works on your new phone too.
- For a PIN, choose 6 digits and enter it a second time. Munshi refuses very easy PINs such as 123456 or 111111.
You can add, change or remove a passkey or PIN later in Settings; look for Sign-in PIN and Passkeys. Removing one does not affect the others, and you can always use an SMS code.
How a sign-in PIN is different from App Lock
- App Lock protects Munshi on this phone. It asks for a PIN, or fingerprint or Face ID, when you open the app.
- The sign-in PIN proves it is you when you sign in on a new phone, in place of an SMS code.
They are different PINs on purpose. Use different numbers for the two. Read more about securing the phone itself in how to back up business records and protect data on your phone.
Signing in on a new phone
- Install Munshi and open it.
- Use Sign in with a passkey if you created one, or enter your number and sign-in PIN.
- Your ledger, Cash Book, bank book and expenses sync back from the cloud.
If no passkey is found on that phone, Munshi tells you to use your number instead. If the phone cannot use passkeys, use your PIN or an SMS code.
If you forget your PIN or it locks
- Choose “Forgot PIN? Send an SMS code instead” and sign in with the code.
- After 5 wrong tries the sign-in PIN locks and Munshi asks for an SMS code. It works again after you sign in once with a code.
- Not sure whether a number has a PIN? If it does not, Munshi says so and offers the SMS code.
Staying safe
A passkey uses your phone’s own security, so anyone whose fingerprint or face is saved on that phone can use it. Keep your phone’s screen lock on, add App Lock, and keep a backup. See how to restore a Munshi backup and how to set up Munshi on Android.
What a passkey is, in plain words
A passkey is a modern replacement for a password. Instead of typing a secret, you prove it is you with something your phone already knows: your fingerprint, your face or your screen lock. The passkey itself is stored in your Google or Apple account, which is why it can work on a new phone linked to the same account. You never see it, never type it, and nobody can guess it. In Munshi, a passkey lets you sign in with your fingerprint or face instead of waiting for an SMS code, and the SMS code remains available whenever you want it.
Choosing between a passkey and a PIN
| Passkey | Sign-in PIN | |
|---|---|---|
| How you sign in | Fingerprint, face or screen lock | Your number plus 6 digits |
| Needs a supported phone | Yes | No |
| Works on a new phone | Yes, through your Google or Apple account | Yes, you type it |
| If you forget it | Use your number or PIN instead | Send an SMS code instead |
| Best for | Speed | Phones without passkeys; people who prefer a number |
You can set up both. If one does not work, the other, or the SMS code, is there.
Choosing a good PIN
- Avoid obvious numbers: 123456, 111111, birthdays, your phone number or shop number.
- Make it different from your App Lock PIN, since the two protect different things.
- Do not share it, even with people you trust. The PIN is for signing in on a new phone, so anyone who has it and your number could sign in as you.
- Write it down somewhere safe, not on the shop wall.
When you change or lose your phone
- Install Munshi on the new phone and open it.
- Use Sign in with a passkey, or enter your number and sign-in PIN, or ask for the SMS code.
- Wait for your records to sync back from the cloud.
- Set up a passkey or PIN again on the new phone if you wish.
If your old phone was lost or stolen, change your Google or Apple account password if you think it is at risk, and consider removing the passkey from Munshi’s settings so that it can no longer be used. You will still be able to sign in with your number and an SMS code. Because a stolen phone can open apps, keep a screen lock on your phone and use App Lock in Munshi.
Troubleshooting
- “No Munshi passkey on this phone.” Use your number instead; you can create a passkey after signing in.
- “This phone can’t use passkeys.” Use your PIN or an SMS code.
- “The passkey didn’t work.” Try again, or use your number.
- “PIN locked after 5 wrong tries.” Use an SMS code; it unlocks the PIN again after a successful sign-in.
- “This number has no sign-in PIN.” Set one after signing in with an SMS code.
For the full setup in context, read getting started with the Munshi app and how to back up business records and protect data on your phone.