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trusted device

A trusted device is a device that a system recognizes, for a particular user's sign-in, as one previously verified as associated with that user's identity.

In plain English

The key idea is that the device has already been verified as linked to one person's identity. For that person's sign-in, the system recognizes the device on that basis.

In context

Here, "trusted device" classifies a saved phone or browser that the system recognizes, for that user's sign-in, as previously verified as associated with that user's identity.

Situation
Setting passwords, multifactor authentication, recovery codes, and trusted devices
What it communicates
classifies saved phones or browsers in the device list

Meaning limits

This term alone does not say that the device is trusted in every context or for every person, only that the system recognizes that prior verification for a particular user's sign-in.

Examples

“Because it had been verified for Lee earlier, the shared browser was a trusted device for Lee's sign-in but not for Sam's.”

Core meaning

“After replacing her phone, she removed the old one from her trusted devices.”

In context