Photo source: Apple
Apple has introduced its first independent password manager application with the release of iOS 18.
The latest update for iPhone, iOS 18, is now available and features a new application called Passwords. This app is dedicated for managing login credentials, which could significantly enhance password security for millions of users.
Despite ongoing advice to create unique and robust passwords for every online account, many individuals still rely on simple and easily guessable passwords like “123456.”
Apple aims to address this issue with its new encrypted Passwords app, which is automatically included in iOS 18. This app represents a public-facing advancement of Apple’s existing Keychain functionality, which has been part of the iPhone ecosystem for over a decade. The Keychain’s previous prominence in the iPhone settings is diminished as its stored data transitions to the new app.
The Passwords app will also be accessible on macOS Sequoia and iPadOS 18, which could potentially transform how users manage their passwords and pose competition to established password management solutions.
“This move makes the app more visible to lay users and informs them about this secure method to store and manage passwords. You have a default password manager preinstalled on your device [that] provides end-to-end encryption when syncing data across devices,” said Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk from the security firm Mysk.
Upon launching the Passwords app, users are greeted with a straightforward interface featuring six main categories: All, Passkeys, Codes, Wi-Fi, Security, and Deleted. These sections facilitate easy organisation of various types of data. The security section offers checks that can identify weak or compromised passwords.
“This will definitely boost the adoption of this preinstalled app and bolster user security,” Bakry and Mysk added. They also noted that the app organises saved data “in a more organised way than the Settings app.”
Apple emphasises that the Passwords app employs end-to-end encryption to safeguard user information, ensuring that even Apple cannot access saved details. Users can search through their stored login information and create groups for sharing passwords with others.
The synchronisation of saved credentials across Apple devices is facilitated by iCloud, which allows encrypted data to be available on all compatible devices. Users also have the option to disable password syncing on specific devices, and access to the app is secured via Face ID.
When users engage with the Passwords app, any previously stored information from Keychain or AutoFill will be migrated to this new platform. This includes logins created through Apple’s Sign in with Apple feature.
Although it remains unclear why Apple has chosen this moment to launch a full-fledged password manager based on its Keychain system, it has been gradually improving individual features over recent years.
