One of the most productive new features in iOS 18 is the built-in Passwords app. With the new iOS 18 app, Apple users finally have a real password manager on their iPhone.
Among the new features, Apple’s Passwords app streamlines login and password control so you can create and manage credentials in apps and websites.
The new iOS 18 app is synced across your devices via iCloud and backed by the gold standard of security, end-to-end encryption, which means no one — even the government and Apple — can view your data.
Passwords are an unreliable form of security. They tamper with them, use easy-to-guess identifiers, or repeat them across facilities, sometimes leaving themselves open to violations.
There have been various industry efforts to get rid of passwords altogether, but at the moment, extra factors of authentication such as Apple’s Face ID are in addition to rather than instead of them.
That’s where password managers come in. They allow you to secure all your passwords in one place, protected by Face ID. Password managers help you to create strong, unique credentials across the many apps and services you use — and they often alert you if your details have been compromised in a breach.
Apple has been introducing an essential password manager, iCloud Keychain, for some time now. This served many of the same purposes as a password manager, adding the ability to create secure credentials and breach alerts. It was more than anything, but it lacked many features of full-featured password managers, which is why Apple released this new app for iOS 18.
The Passwords app is only for Apple users, as at the time of writing it does not offer the option to migrate all your credentials to some other password manager. Apple plans to provide a tool to help users import passwords from third-party services, but is not in a position to do so yet.
But if you’ve already used iCloud Keychain, the Passwords app is more secure and convenient, and it has many new features that bring it in line with the competition, such as 1Password and LastPass.
Among the benefits, the iOS 18 Passwords app alerts you to any security breaches without having to use a third-party service, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET. “This can prevent other people from reusing their credentials while also letting them know if there are passwords that may be weak. “
“The fact this is a default, built-in app now leaves no excuse for not tidying up your online credentials,” Moore adds.
However, if you are already using a third-party password manager and it works for you, you might as well carry on — at least until Apple offers the ability to easily migrate your details over.
iCloud Keychain was in your Settings, but once you’ve updated to iOS 18, locate the Passwords app on your home screen, sort Passwords with a key image. If you’ve used Keychain before, everything will be migrated to the new app. once you update to iOS 18. iOS 18 Password app is locked with Face ID.
When you first open the app, you’ll be asked if you want to send yourself notifications. I said no, but obviously it’s up to you.
The Passwords app in iOS 18 includes a panel with several sections: your passwords, keys, passcodes, WiFi networks, everything you’ve deleted, and your security recommendations.
You’ll then see a panel containing several sections: your passwords, your passcodes, your codes, your WiFi networks, anything you’ve deleted, and your security recommendations.
You can also set up a group, which allows you to add trusted contacts to share passwords with, such as your family for access to streaming services.
The iOS 18 Passwords app can also be managed in your Settings > AutoFill & Passwords. The Setting to AutoFill Passwords and Passkeys is toggled to on by default, but you can turn it off if you wish.
The setting to delete verification codes after use is also toggled to on — which is a handy feature I suggest you use, if only to keep things tidy on your device.
In order to use the new Passwords app, you’ll first need to update to iOS 18. If you’re concerned about your security, I recommend doing so, because the latest edition also includes 33 fixes for iPhone, plus some cool new features. .
To update your iPhone to iOS 18, go to Settings > General > Software Update, then download and install the new one now.
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