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Apple’s Passwords app, introduced with iOS 18, brings saved logins, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi passwords and security alerts into one place. If you use an iPhone and mostly Apple devices, it can handle everyday password management without a separate Passwords subscription. The app uses iCloud Keychain for syncing; it is not a wholly new security system.
What the Passwords app does
Passwords is Apple’s dedicated interface for credentials that were previously mainly managed through Settings. It can store website and app passwords, passkeys, two-factor verification codes, Wi-Fi passwords and credentials shared with other people. Its Security section flags passwords that are weak, reused or associated with known leaks. Features such as passkeys and automatic code use depend on the website or app supporting them. Apple’s Passwords guide covers supported features.
The app is available on iPhone with iOS 18 or later, as well as supported iPad, Mac and Vision Pro software. Update to the latest iOS version available for your iPhone because labels and category placement may change. You will need to be signed in to your Apple Account. Use Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode to unlock saved credentials.
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Open Passwords and find an account
- Swipe down on the Home Screen to open Search.
- Type Passwords and tap the app.
- Authenticate when prompted.
- Tap All to browse saved website and app credentials, or choose a category such as Passkeys, Verification Codes, Wi-Fi, Security or Shared Groups.
Tap an entry to view its details. Tap the password field to reveal or copy the password. Use Edit to update details such as the username, password, website, note or sharing group. Avoid leaving a revealed password on screen, taking a screenshot, or pasting it into a message or note.
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Deleting an entry removes the saved credential from Passwords; it does not delete the account on the website or app. Confirm that the login still works elsewhere before deleting it. Apple says deleted Passwords information may be recoverable for up to 30 days unless it is removed earlier. See Apple’s Passwords privacy information.
Enable AutoFill and iCloud Keychain
AutoFill offers saved credentials when you sign in to supported websites and apps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then AutoFill & Passwords.
- Turn on AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys.
When signing in, tap the username or password field, select the suggested account (or the key/passwords icon), authenticate if asked, then tap Sign In. The exact prompt varies by app and site.
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To sync credentials across approved Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account, open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud > Passwords and Keychain, and turn on iCloud Keychain. A newly saved credential may take time to appear elsewhere. Devices may need approval, and signing out of iCloud can affect access to synced credentials. Before erasing or trading in an old iPhone or Mac, confirm that important logins are available on another device.
Create or change a strong password
When creating an account: Start signup in a supported website or app, tap its password field, accept the suggested strong password, submit the form, then check that the login appears in Passwords.
For an existing account: Open Passwords > All, choose the account and use the option to create or generate a strong password. Then change the password on the service’s website or app and verify that the updated credential is saved. Generating a password in Passwords alone does not change it at the service. A password change may sign you out on other devices or invalidate existing sessions.
Use passkeys
A passkey is not a password stored in another format. It is a sign-in credential used by a compatible website or app, typically unlocked with Face ID, Touch ID or your device passcode. To create one, choose an option such as Create a passkey or Set up a passkey on a supported service, accept the prompt to save it in Passwords, and authenticate. Next time, select the service’s passkey sign-in option.
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Store two-factor verification codes
- In Passwords, tap All and select the relevant website or app entry.
- Under Security, tap Set Up Verification Code….
- Scan the service’s QR code or enter its setup key, then save the entry.
- Use the generated code when signing in.
Where a service supports it, an authenticator code is generally preferable to receiving a code by SMS, but it is not a substitute for recovery planning. Save the service’s emergency recovery codes separately and keep another recovery route available. If the iPhone is lost and its codes are your only second factor, access may be difficult.
Review security recommendations
Open Passwords, authenticate, tap Security and select an account to see a recommendation. If asked to change a password, do so on the actual service and then update the saved entry.
A “compromised” warning means the password, or a protected derivation of it, is associated with known leaked-password data; it does not prove that the specific service was hacked recently or that someone accessed your account. Apple says weak-password analysis happens on-device and that compromised-password detection is designed to check against leaked data without revealing the actual password to Apple. Read Apple’s privacy explanation.
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For ongoing sharing, create a Shared Group in Passwords, name it, invite trusted contacts and add only the credentials that group needs. Apple says groups can include passwords, passkeys and Sign in with Apple credentials. You can also use an item’s share control to send an individual credential by an available method, such as AirDrop.
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Sharing is meaningful access, not just a convenient way to send a secret. Members can access group entries and may modify or delete them. A member who leaves keeps entries they contributed but loses access to entries shared by others. Use separate groups for different trust levels—for example, household bills, streaming services, or shared administrative accounts—and avoid putting every password in one group. Review membership when circumstances change. If a shared password is changed by someone else, remove people who no longer need access, change it on the service if appropriate, and update the shared entry.
Share a Wi-Fi password
For another Apple device nearby, Apple’s standard Wi-Fi password-sharing flow can let the person join without you saying the password aloud. If you need the actual password, open Passwords > Wi-Fi and select the network. Passwords stores Wi-Fi credentials and supports direct sharing between devices, but joining a network and revealing its password are different needs.
Use Apple Passwords on Windows
Apple supports access to passwords on Windows through iCloud for Windows, with browser integration for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. That makes Passwords more than an iPhone-only option, but it is less universal than a manager designed for many platforms and browsers. Follow Apple’s current setup instructions for your Windows and browser configuration.
Is Apple Passwords enough?
For someone who mainly uses an iPhone, iPad and Mac and needs logins, passkeys, verification codes and straightforward sharing, Apple Passwords is likely sufficient. It is built into supported Apple software and has no separately listed Passwords subscription. That does not mean the broader Apple ecosystem has no costs, such as hardware or any iCloud storage needs.
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Consider a third-party manager if you regularly use Android, Linux, Windows or many browsers; need secure notes, identity documents or file attachments; want more elaborate emergency access; or share a vault with people on mixed platforms. Feature sets, recovery options and costs vary, so compare what you actually need rather than assuming a paid manager is automatically safer.
| Need | Apple Passwords | Third-party manager |
|---|---|---|
| Apple device integration | Strong integration with Apple devices and AutoFill | Can work well, but requires setup and varies by provider |
| Other platforms | Windows access is available through iCloud for Windows; platform breadth is more limited | Often designed for multiple desktop, mobile and browser platforms |
| Passkeys and verification codes | Supported where services support them | Supported by many leading managers; implementation varies |
| Documents and advanced vault features | More focused on credentials | Often includes secure notes, attachments or broader organization |
| Sharing and recovery | Convenient within Apple’s ecosystem; shared-group access needs care | Options vary and may include broader sharing or emergency access |
For example, Bitwarden offers a free tier and broad platform support, while 1Password emphasizes cross-platform vault and family features. Compare their current features and terms directly; do not choose based on an old price or a feature you will not use.
Troubleshooting common problems
AutoFill does not suggest the account
- Check Settings > General > AutoFill & Passwords and confirm AutoFill is on.
- Tap the login field again and look for an AutoFill prompt or key icon.
- Search for the account manually in Passwords and check that its website or app association is correct.
- Update iOS and the app. If it happens only in a third-party browser, try Safari to narrow down the issue.
- Copy the username and password manually only as a last resort, and avoid leaving them exposed.
Unusual login forms, embedded browsers and apps with poor credential associations can prevent a match; AutoFill is not guaranteed to work on every site or app.
Passwords are not syncing
Confirm both devices use the same Apple Account, iCloud Keychain is enabled, both are online and approved, and allow time for syncing. Also check whether another password manager saved the credential locally instead. Avoid turning iCloud Keychain off and back on as a first fix: understand the possible synchronization consequences before changing it.
A passkey or verification code is missing
Check which credential providers are enabled under AutoFill and whether the credential was saved to another password manager or Apple Account. A passkey may have been created on another device, or the site may not expose a compatible sign-in flow. For a missing verification code, use a saved recovery code, another enrolled authenticator or the service’s recovery process. Do not delete the Passwords entry until access is restored. After recovery, re-enroll two-factor authentication and save fresh backup codes.
Your iPhone is lost
Use Find My and Lost Mode, protect your Apple Account with two-factor authentication, and use another trusted Apple device if available. Keep account-recovery details and service backup codes somewhere accessible without that one iPhone; do not make it the sole source of authenticator codes.
Bottom line
If your household uses Apple devices and your needs are ordinary logins, passkeys, verification codes and basic sharing, Apple Passwords is a capable built-in choice. If you need consistent access across mixed platforms, extensive secure-document storage or more advanced recovery and sharing controls, compare third-party managers before moving your whole vault.
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