Apple ID Security Keys Feature Now Supports iCloud for Windows

If you have physical security keys set up for your Apple ID account, you can now sign in to iCloud on Windows, after updating the app to version 15 or later. Apple confirmed this change in a support document updated today.

Apple advanced security Security Keys screen Feature crop
Previously, signing in to iCloud for Windows was not an option whatsoever after turning on the Apple ID security keys feature.

Apple ID security keys support was introduced early last year with iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, and macOS 13.2. When the optional setting is turned on, signing in to an Apple ID requires entering the account's password and then using a FIDO-certified security key to complete two-factor authentication, instead of a traditional six-digit verification code from another Apple device. These security keys typically look similar to a USB thumb drive.

Apple says the feature is "designed for people who want extra protection from targeted attacks, such as phishing or social engineering scams." You should be extra careful if you turn on the feature, as you could be locked out of your Apple ID account permanently if you lose all of your trusted Apple devices and security keys.

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...

Top Rated Comments

Realityck Avatar
26 months ago
I noticed last night around 11 PM to Midnight PST Apple ID wasn't working, then it was. Via Safari web browser, not an app those all worked. I checked Apple system status it was all green. Possibly Apple was updating their Apple ID security?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
koil Avatar
26 months ago
What I really want is to be able to register my own Passkeys to unlock my Apple ID.

Apple makes it easy to use your iPhone as a Passkey for other sites, but they don't allow me to use Passkeys to secure my Apple ID itself.

Really irritating.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleTO Avatar
26 months ago
They've finally re-done the ancient UI as well. About time.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Justin Cymbal Avatar
26 months ago
I’m glad that Apple is expanding this feature to Windows users as well. These extra security features are definitely great for users

I logged into my Google account a few months ago and added a bunch of new ways to secure my Google account including Google Authenticator - something that I’ve been meaning to do for a while

There must’ve been 10 different options of securing your Google account that Google makes available so I hope that Apple does something similar because the more ways that a user has to get into their account, the less likely that they will get locked out of their own account. I’m trying to rely less on SMS authentication and more on these alternative methods to enable higher security

On my Google account I removed my main personal phone number and I now only use 2 phone numbers (that I don’t give out to people) for the SMS authentication - I think that’s a better alternative than using your main phone number that everyone knows
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Purplish0581 Avatar
26 months ago

I’m glad that Apple is expanding this feature to Windows users as well. These extra security features are definitely great for users

I logged into my Google account a few months ago and added a bunch of new ways to secure my Google account including Google Authenticator - something that I’ve been meaning to do for a while

There must’ve been 10 different options of securing your Google account that Google makes available so I hope that Apple does something similar because the more ways that a user has to get into their account, the less likely that they will get locked out of their own account. I’m trying to rely less on SMS authentication and more on these alternative methods to enable higher security

On my Google account I removed my main personal phone number and I now only use 2 phone numbers (that I don’t give out to people) for the SMS authentication - I think that’s a better alternative than using your main phone number that everyone knows
It’s nice that Google offers many different ways to authenticate and 2FA, but be mindful the more options you switch on, the more “attack surface area” you have on that account.

Best thing is to usually have only your most secure method switched on, such as PassKeys or hardware keys for 2FA. That way an attacker must possess a key to gain access.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)