iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2 Betas Add Support for Physical Apple ID Security Keys

The iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS Ventura 13.2 betas that were provided to developers today introduce support for physical security keys that can be used as extra protection for an Apple ID.

ios 16 3 security keys info
Apple announced the new feature last week, and said that it would be introduced in 2023, which lines up with when we are expecting the launch of iOS 16.3 and its sister updates. Security Keys for ‌Apple ID‌ will provide users with the option to add a third-party security key to their account, which will be needed for authentication when logging into a new device or otherwise accessing an ‌Apple ID‌.

The Security Key is designed to replace the verification codes that are sent to Apple devices when logging into another device, which is the standard method of authentication that Apple uses. Apple says that physical security keys provide strong protection against phishing and unauthorized account access.

ios 16 3 security keys
Security Keys can be set up on devices running the beta by going to ‌Apple ID‌ > Security Keys and following the instructions. The iPhone, iPad, and Mac support FIDO Certified security keys.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

now i see it Avatar
40 months ago
Since 2FA is an absolute nightmare when the trusted iPhone is lost, bricked or stolen- having a physical key instead is a very welcome change
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mapsdotapp Avatar
40 months ago
does enabling Security Keys disable the horribly insecure SMS fallback option for two factor authentication?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaPizzaMan Avatar
40 months ago

Can't come soon enough. Does anyone actually enjoy getting 6 digit SMS messages?
For logging into your Apple account? I can't remember the last time I had to do that. It's always a pop-up notification on my Apple devices.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
40 months ago

I welcome this but at the same time feel like its worth waiting on buying a couple yubi keys until the iPhone migrates to USB C. No need to deal with special iPhone specific keys with a connector that's being phased out when you could just buy some that work on all your devices.
That's what I'm waiting on - hoping iPhone 15 has USB C.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RamGuy Avatar
40 months ago
It was a breeze adding my two Yubikey 5 NFC security keys. I have one model with USB-A and one with USB-C. Enjoy the added security this adds. My Apple ID is protecting so many critical things in my life at this point, so this added barrier of having to authenticate with a physical security key when logging in on unrecognised devices is a great addition.

I still can't enable Enhanced Data Protection for whatever reason. It doesn't seem like this feature is available in Norway yet.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Knowledge Navigator Avatar
40 months ago
Can't come soon enough. Does anyone actually enjoy getting 6 digit SMS messages?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)