New Apple ID Sign-In Options: Phone Number on File or Trusted Device

The upcoming iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma updates for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac include a couple of new sign-in methods for an Apple ID account.

iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ID Feature 3
First, it is now possible to sign into an Apple ID with any phone number or secondary email address on file with the account. We were able to sign into an Apple ID with a phone number on the Apple ID website using a Mac running macOS Ventura, so it's unclear if this feature specifically requires the new software updates or is simply a backend change.

Second, starting with an iOS 17 update coming later this year, there will be a new Apple ID proximity sign-in feature. This will allow you to bring an existing signed-in and trusted iPhone or iPad into proximity with a new device being set up, pair the devices by scanning an on-screen "particle cloud," and complete sign-in automatically.

iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma also added passkey support to Apple IDs.

Apple announced that iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will be released on Monday, September 18, while macOS Sonoma launches Tuesday, September 26.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Coming to These U.S. States Next

Wednesday October 23, 2024 1:41 pm PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in the feature in...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 Mass Production Timeframe Revealed as Launch Gets Closer

Wednesday October 23, 2024 9:38 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a blog post. The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM...
m3 mbp space black

What to Expect From Apple's 'Exciting Week of Announcements'

Thursday October 24, 2024 10:36 am PDT by
Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today teased that the company has an "exciting week of announcements" planned next week. Joswiak said to "Mac" your calendars, and the post includes an animated icon for the Finder app on the Mac, so it is clear that at least some of next week's announcements will be related to the Mac. Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more videos! Below, we have...
apple oct 2024 mac tease

Apple Teases M4 Mac Announcements Next Week

Thursday October 24, 2024 9:19 am PDT by
Apple's Greg Joswiak today made it clear that Apple plans to reveal new products next week, teasing refreshed Macs. In a social media post, Joswiak said to "Mac your calendars" because there's an exciting week of announcements that start on Monday morning. With Joswiak's announcement, it appears that there will not be a dedicated October event for Macs this year, with Apple instead...
apple watch 10 halloween

Apple Watch Series 10 Drops to New Record Low Prices on Amazon

Thursday October 24, 2024 7:01 am PDT by
Amazon today has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for the new all-time low price of $366.28, down from $399.00. This sale is only available in the Rose Gold Aluminum model, and Amazon provides an expected delivery date of October 28 for most United States residences. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Here Are All the New Features Coming to macOS Sequoia Next Week

Friday October 25, 2024 7:45 am PDT by
On October 28, Apple is expected to release macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1, bringing to Macs the first Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools, new Siri features, Smart Replies, and more. In addition, macOS 15.1 adds a handful of welcome tweaks and improvements to existing Mac capabilities. Here's what we can expect from the first major update to macOS Sequoia later this month. Note that...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware Ahead of Hearing Aid Feature Launch

Thursday October 24, 2024 11:43 am PDT by
Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, with the software available for both the USB-C and Lightning models. The AirPods Pro 2 firmware has a build number of 7B19, up from the 7A305 firmware released in September. The new AirPods Pro 2 firmware comes just ahead of when Apple plans to launch Hearing Health features in iOS 18.1. Hearing Health includes a hearing test...
M4 Mac mini Silver Perspective

5 Reasons to Get Excited About the New Mac Mini

Wednesday October 23, 2024 6:55 am PDT by
Apple's Mac mini has long been a powerhouse in a compact form, offering impressive performance in a small package. With rumors swirling about a completely overhauled new model that is likely just days away from being announced, anticipation is building for what Apple has in store. From enhanced connectivity to major hardware upgrades, the upcoming Mac mini promises to bring significant...

Top Rated Comments

MallardDuck Avatar
15 months ago
Oh this is going to end well.

SIM hijacking.
Reused numbers that were never released by the previous owner.

Phone number, like SSN, is NOT a valid identifier.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
killawat Avatar
15 months ago
Really don't like this one. Apple why get us killer auth with Yubikey and then make our accounts easier to compromise with phone number?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fwmireault Avatar
15 months ago
I think some people are confused by the wording here. This is not SMS 2FA, nor is that a replacement to Yubikey or the classical Apple OTP authentification with a code sent to known Apple devices. It’s not even a replacement to passkey. This only means that you can enter your phone number as the ID. You still need to provide a password and to do the same 2steps authentification as usual.

Many Apple IDs are not a very private information anyway as it is often the primary email address of an user, so providing more possible "username" options is not making it less secure
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BenGoren Avatar
15 months ago
It’s the fundamental dilemma of security. You want to make it invisible to legitimate people but impenetrable to others.

I can easily imagine being grateful for being able to sign in with a device. I can also easily imagine somebody getting hacked as a result.

There isn’t a good answer. For example … you might think that it would be a good idea for Apple to offer an option to enable or disable this. But there will still be cases where the option is in the worng state — somebody regrets enabling it, somebody else regrets disabling it.

Ultimately … life is imperfect.

b&
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Natas1000 Avatar
15 months ago
Can we merge icloud accounts yet?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Brad7 Avatar
15 months ago
I thought they would push for passkey over phone number of all things.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)