iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia Let Websites and Apps Automatically Update Existing Logins to Passkeys - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia Let Websites and Apps Automatically Update Existing Logins to Passkeys

by

With the new Passwords app in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, there's a feature that is designed to allow websites and apps to upgrade existing accounts to passkeys automatically.

ios 18 passkey upgrade
Enabled by default, the feature will speed up the adoption of passkeys, which are more secure than a traditional login and password. Passkeys log you in with Face ID or Touch ID rather than a password, and because on-device authentication is required, passkeys put a stop to online attacks like phishing. There's no password to steal or authentication code that can be intercepted.

Several popular websites and services have implemented Passkey support since Apple started using passkeys in 2022, including Twitter, Google, WhatsApp, TikTok, PayPal, Best Buy, Microsoft, PlayStation, and eBay.

Passkeys are supported in the new Passwords app that's available in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and Windows PCs through iCloud for Windows.

Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

What's Coming in September: New iPhones, Apple Watches and More

Thursday August 13, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple will introduce at least five new devices at its iPhone-centric event next month, and it's also possible we'll get devices waiting on Siri AI like the Apple TV. iPhone 18 Pro The iPhone 18 Pro is going to look like the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a smaller Dynamic Island. It's getting some internal updates, including a new Wide camera with a variable aperture for more control over lighting ...
Read Full Article • 24 comments
iPhone 17 One Year Later Thumb 1

Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18?

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
For the first time since Apple started selling standard and "Pro" iPhones, we're not going to get an entry-level iPhone model this fall. Apple doesn't plan to release an iPhone 18 in September, and will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The lower-cost iPhone 18 won't come out until spring 2027. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Read Full Article • 97 comments
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27 Feature 1

30 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27

Friday August 14, 2026 6:24 am PDT by
Apple will release iOS 27 in September, and despite the company's focus this year on refining its flagship operating system and nixing bugs, there are still many additional features on the way, not least of which is Apple's new context-aware Siri, re-tooled for the generative AI era. This year's major iPhone software update isn't all about AI, though, as the following feature list...
Read Full Article • 40 comments

Top Rated Comments

S
SpotOnT
29 months ago
Not a fan of passkeys. They tie you to a specific piece of hardware…which is probably why Apple likes them so much.

I have been in numerous situations where I had to check email/airline accounts/etc from a different device.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
diskrisk
29 months ago

Not a fan of passkeys. They tie you to a specific piece of hardware…which is probably why Apple likes them so much.
They don't. Passkeys can theoretically be shared (1Password is working to allow this) and multiple passkeys can be generated attached to the same account.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
macduke
29 months ago
If you are robbed and lose access to all of your Apple devices, how do you login to your insurance provider to file a claim? How do login to anything with only passkeys and no device? Genuinely curious. Can I login to iCloud and use that on a new device or from the web? I’ve been hesitant to upgrade.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eminemdrdre00 Avatar
Eminemdrdre00
29 months ago

If you are robbed and lose access to all of your Apple devices, how do you login to your insurance provider to file a claim? How do login to anything with only passkeys and no device? Genuinely curious. Can I login to iCloud and use that on a new device or from the web? I’ve been hesitant to upgrade.
They are sync'd with iCloud. So you can log into a new device with your Apple ID and then your passkeys will be available.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
bevel
29 months ago
This is going to be seen as forced adoption and there is going to be pushback against it

Look at all the confusion in these comments about how passkeys work. A password is easy to understand. Passkeys are the unknown. This will make them difficult to defend

I am not sure what Apple has done is the best idea here. It is at least going to polarise a bunch of people against them
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
LightProtector
29 months ago
This is nice, but I hope it's a prompt that asks. I would really like it to not automatically do something without my consent.

I also wonder how this works? Seems like a good feature nonetheless.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments