WeChat Rolls Out Passkey Support for iOS Users Outside China

WeChat is introducing passkey support for its iOS app, allowing users outside of China to sign in to the country's dominant messaging platform using Face ID, Touch ID, or their device passcode instead of traditional passwords.

wechat logo
Apple introduced passkeys in iOS 16 to provide users with a more secure and convenient authentication method than entering a password. Passkeys offer enhanced security by reducing common risks associated with traditional passwords, such as phishing attacks and credential theft. Since authentication occurs directly on the user's device using biometric data or their device passcode, there are no passwords to compromise or intercept.

To set up a passkey, WeChat users need an iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 or later with iCloud Keychain and two-factor authentication enabled for their Apple Account. Users can enable the feature through WeChat's Account & Security settings, according to a new WeChat support document.

Tencent-owned WeChat joins a growing list of major platforms that have adopted passkey technology, including Google, PayPal, Microsoft, and TikTok. In WeChat, the feature is currently limited to users outside of China, and there's no word on if or when it might expand to the app's domestic Chinese version.

Popular Stories

iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
Cyber Week Deals 2025

Best Cyber Week Apple Deals Include Big Discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, and More

Sunday November 30, 2025 7:33 am PST by
Cyber Week is here, and you can find popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more at all-time low prices. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically,...
Netflix Smaller 4

Netflix Kills Casting From Its Mobile App to Most Modern TVs

Monday December 1, 2025 4:36 am PST by
Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile apps to most modern TVs and streaming devices, including newer Chromecast models and the Google TV Streamer. The change was first spotted by users on Reddit and confirmed in an updated Netflix support page (via Android Authority), which now states that the streaming service no longer supports casting from mobile devices...
studio display purple february

M5 iPad Pro Could Hint at New Studio Display Feature

Sunday November 30, 2025 10:30 am PST by
The updated specs of the M5 iPad Pro may point toward a major new feature for Apple's next-generation Studio Display expected in early 2026. Apple's latest iPad Pro debuted last month and contains one display-related change that stands out: it can now drive external monitors at up to 120Hz with Adaptive Sync. The feature should deliver lower latency, smoother motion, and fewer visual...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
Sad Siri Feature

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays

Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: Apple's Big Plans for iPad Mini 8

Friday November 28, 2025 8:39 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors about Apple's upcoming iPad mini 8. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The next-generation version of the iPad mini is expected to feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...

Top Rated Comments

2128506 Avatar
14 months ago
Yay, Chinese government can spy on you using Passkeys now. Nice!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jaytv111 Avatar
14 months ago

who introduced them (it wasn’t apple),

Apple introduced passkeys in iOS 16
Seems to be your misinterpretation, iOS is last I checked Apple's so it's correct to say Apple introduced passkeys in iOS. It certainly wasn't Microsoft introducing passkeys in iOS. It didn't say Apple invented passkeys or that they introduced passkeys to a nonspecific product.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
flyingember Avatar
14 months ago

Which part do you think is wrong?
Where you have to store it, who introduced them (it wasn’t apple), that you have to use biometrics to use them, implying you only store them in iCloud Keychain, that they protect from credential theft (depends on how the site uses them) and there’s no password involved

so basically everything

It wasn’t my first info but I went to a multi hour event hosted by the Fido alliance at RSAC and they were sharing future state of the tech at it. I work in identity and access management and am championing passkeys in my role
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hank001 Avatar
14 months ago

To a lot of websites I have two accounts. How does this work with passkeys?
Perhaps your other MR account can answer that question(?)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hank001 Avatar
14 months ago

Only one account here ?

But on Amazon for example I use a business account and a private account.
Sorry for trying to be funny. It's just...one of those days.

Anyway, I do the same. Multiple accounts. Sometimes just to see how others see my activity on a site.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
14 months ago

Where you have to store it
The article doesn’t mention other places to store passkeys, but most readers would probably be using iCloud Keychain.


who introduced them (it wasn’t apple)
Apple were the first to use the term “passkeys” for WebAuthn credentials.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/5/23293643/apple-passkeys-fido-alliance-passwordless-google-microsoft


that you have to use biometrics to use them
It does say that you can use a passcode.

using Face ID, Touch ID, or their device passcode

that they protect from credential theft (depends on how the site uses them)
Only the public key is sent to the web server. The passkey is generated on the device and backed up to iCloud and synced to other devices using end-to-end encryption. This does offer protection in the event of credential theft compared to passwords.

There isn’t any password involved if using passkeys with iCloud Keychain.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)