Passwords (Apple)

Passwords
A screenshot of the Passwords app on iOS 18.1.1
Developer(s)	Apple Inc.
Initial release	September 16, 2024;10 months ago (2024-09-16)
Operating system	iOS 18 onward iPadOS 18 onward macOS Sequoia onward visionOS 2 onward
Predecessor	Keychain
Type	Password manager

Passwords is a password manager application developed by Apple Inc. available for devices running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2 or higher.

Features

The app allows users to store and access encrypted account information saved to their iCloud Keychain or created via Sign in with Apple. ^{[1] [2]}

Passwords can also be accessed through the iCloud for Windows program.

Users can choose to manually enter new account details into the app, requiring a label or website name alongside the associated username and password.

Additional notes can also be attached to an account for further details; however, users are unable to add their own data fields. Accounts created through Sign in with Apple will be automatically registered into the app and will display their proxy e-mail address if iCloud's "Hide My Email" feature is used.

When entering a new account into the keychain, the app will also provide a strong password suggestion composed of random numbers and letters. All details are encrypted and stored on a user's iCloud account via Keychain, allowing Passwords to be synced and used across devices. AutoFill allows details stored in the app to be automatically entered into a website or application for quick and simple account login.

Alongside standard passwords, the program supports the use of passkeys and multi-factor authentication security codes and will provide users with security recommendations if their passwords are easily guessable or found in a data breach. ^[3] Accounts can also be added to shared groups to grant access to friends and family.

Passwords will also store the details of any connected Wi-Fi networks and can generate a QR code that can be scanned to connect another device to the same network.

History

Main article: Keychain (software)

Apple first developed their Keychain password management system as a component of their now-discontinued PowerTalk e-mail system.

The concept was eventually revived and directly integrated into the operating system with Mac OS 8.6, allowing for the secure storage of several types of sensitive data. ^[4]

At WWDC 2013, Apple unveiled iCloud Keychain, which introduced the encrypted storage of account details over iCloud. ^[5]

This allowed for logins to be synced across Mac devices and introduced other notable features including AutoFill and generating suggested passwords upon sign-up.

A simplified version of Keychain has also been included in iOS since its initial release, with password storage previously accessible only through the Settings app. ^[6] Password AutoFill was first integrated into the operating system with the release of iOS 11, later being expanded into an API for third-party password managers.

The application was announced on June 10, 2024, by Craig Federighi at WWDC 2024, and shipped with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and visionOS 2 on September 16, 2024. ^[2]

References

1. Gurman, Mark (June 6, 2024). "Apple to Debut Passwords App in Challenge to 1Password, LastPass" . Bloomberg News . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
2. Tibken, Shara; Stern, Joanna (June 11, 2024). "Password App, iPad Calculator, Scheduled Text Messages: What's Coming Soon to Your Apple Devices" . The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
3. Christoffel, Ryan (September 16, 2024). "Here's what the new Passwords app in iOS 18 can do". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
4. Bohon, Cory (February 9, 2017). "Apple's iCloud Keychain: The smart person's guide". TechRepublic. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
5. Moise, Kaylie (June 10, 2013). "Apple Introduces iCloud Keychain". Macgasm. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
6. Casey, Henry T. (June 6, 2017). "8 Awesome iOS 11 Features You Don't Know About". Tom's Guide. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2024.