US Patent 10205718 Authentication transfer across electronic devices

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that authenticates a user. During operation, the system obtains a request to transfer an authentication of the user on a first electronic device to a second electronic device. Next, the system enables, in response to the request, an authentication mechanism for transferring the authentication of the user from the first electronic device to the second electronic device. Upon detecting use of the authentication mechanism on the first electronic device or the second electronic device, the system authenticates the user on the second electronic device without requiring authentication credentials for the user from the second electronic device.