Summary
To generate and maintain logins, a password manager is highly recommended by security experts. Apple’s free built-in iCloud Keychain is one option for users of iPhone, iPad, and Mac; it allows you to create, save, and use safe passwords. Although iCloud Keychain is limited to using Safari by default, it may also be accessed on Mac or Windows PCs using iCloud for Windows and the iCloud Passwords plugin for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Security codes, Wi-Fi passwords, passkeys, and credit card information may all be kept in Apple’s iCloud Keychain. The tool uses 256-bit AES end-to-end encryption for data transmission and storage in order to protect sensitive information. For the passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID on your smartphone to authenticate access, you must also activate two-factor authentication.
You need to be running iOS 7 or later, iPadOS 13 or later, and OS X 10.9 or later in order to manage your passwords and the majority of other data. You must be running iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, and macOS Ventura or later in order to use passkeys. Let’s now examine how everything works.
How to Enable iCloud Keychain
You must first activate iCloud Keychain. Navigate to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Passwords and Keychain on an iPhone or iPad. Sync this iPhone or Sync this iPad by flipping the switch next to it on.
Open System Preferences on a Mac running macOS Ventura or later to activate iCloud Keychain. Click your name, pick iCloud, Passwords and Keychain, and Sync this Mac option to activate. To access System Preferences on a Mac running macOS Monterey or a previous version, click the Apple icon. Select the Keychain box by clicking the Apple ID symbol.
Confirm Your Password Options
Verify that your default password setting is iCloud Keychain. Select Passwords under Settings on an iPhone or iPad. After completing the login process, choose Password Options. Make sure iCloud Passwords & Keychain is checked and that the option next to AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys is turned on.
To access Password Options on a Mac running macOS Ventura or above, go to System Settings > Passwords. Activate the switches next to Keychain, Passkeys, and AutoFill Passwords.
How to Save Account Passwords
Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then go to a website that you are already registered with. After you enter your password and username, an alert requesting to save this password in your iCloud Keychain should appear. Select “Save Password.” Now that you’ve saved the password, you may access the website.
On a Mac, the procedure works identically. Open the page with Safari to store a password for an already-existing account. Enter your login credentials in the corresponding areas and log in. You are prompted to decide whether to store this password. To save your password, click Save.
How to Create Account Passwords
Many websites will let iCloud Keychain generate and provide a recommended password automatically if you need to open a new account. Click Use Strong Password if you like the password and it satisfies the website’s criteria. Select Other Options if not.
Next, you have the option to create a new password, modify an existing one, remove special characters, alter the recommended password, or pick a password that is simple to write. Once finished, choose Use Strong Password. You have logged into the website, and iCloud Keychain has your account details saved.
On some websites, a password suggestion may not show up right away. If so, you will need to manually initiate it. After tapping the Password field, tap the Passwords word that appears above the keyboard. Select Create New Password from the AutoFill Password page, and iCloud Keychain will generate a password for you.
After verifying the login and URL of the website, click Done. You may log in after entering the created password into the password form.
Open the webpage with Safari on a Mac to generate login credentials. After selecting the “Create New Account” option, provide your username and password. In the password box, click the Keychain symbol and choose Suggest New Password.
To change the password, click on it. Click Use Strong Password if you agree. If not, choose a choice from the list by clicking the Other Options button. After deciding on a password, proceed with the account setup.
How to Autofill a Password
Now, if you go back to a website where you have an account and choose the sign-in choices, a popup asking you to sign in with your stored password should appear at the bottom of the page. You may login onto the website by tapping the button that shows your username or account name, authenticating with a passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID, and then continuing.
On a Mac, visit a website where your login information has been stored to automatically fill in a password. In the username box, click. The field containing the account name displays a prompt. Either use Touch ID or click the name to enter your Mac’s password. You may log onto the site by automatically entering your credentials.
How to Use iCloud Keychain in Chrome and Edge
You can utilize iCloud Keychain on a Windows or Mac computer using Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge if you have the appropriate software. Start Chrome or Edge, then go to the Chrome Web Store or Edge Add-ons page and add the iCloud Passwords extension.
Installing iCloud for Windows is possible for Windows users via the Microsoft Store. Open the application and log in using your Apple ID. A screen labeled “Sync your Passwords” will show up during setup. Once the setting is complete, click the Sync Passwords option. You may also use iCloud for Windows to sync iPhone images with your computer.
Open the page in Chrome or Edge to store a password for an already-existing account. In the email address area, click. When you do this for the first time, iCloud Passwords asks whether you want to enable it to autofill your passwords. After you click the notification, a verification code that shows on the screen must be typed.
Sign in by entering your password and username in the corresponding areas. You are prompted to decide whether to save this password in iCloud Keychain. To save your password, click Save.
Additionally, you may make a new account and store your login information, albeit this is a more difficult procedure with Chrome and Edge than it is with Safari. Go to a website where you don’t currently have an account to test this. After entering your password and username, click in the password area and choose Manage Passwords. Use your fingerprint, face recognition, or PIN to authenticate.
In the iCloud Passwords box, click the + icon located at the top of the left pane, and enter your username and the website’s URL. To generate a password, click Generate Strong Password. You may create new passwords by repeatedly pressing that button. Click “Add Password” after you’re satisfied.
Go back to the website’s account setup page. Click the username box and choose the newly created entry. After that, you may complete creating your new account. Visit a website using credentials you’ve stored to have a password autofilled. Enter your login, choose the account you’ve saved, and log in.
Manage Your iCloud Keychain Passwords
Do you need to make any changes? With iCloud Keychain, you can control every account and password you’ve saved. Select Passwords under Settings on an iPhone or iPad. Swipe left and choose Delete to get rid of an account you’re done with. You may modify the username, password, and other information by tapping the account name, selecting Edit, and then making changes. Press Done once you’re done.
Navigate to System Preferences > Passwords on a Mac. To manage an account, double-click its entry or choose its Info icon. To delete the account, click Delete Password. To modify the password, username, and other settings, click Edit. Click Save when you’re done.
