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

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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

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Top Rated Comments

S
SpotOnT
22 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
22 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
22 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
22 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
22 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
22 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)
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