Here’s a Sneak Peek at the New Apple Passwords App [June 2024]

Your next major Apple software update (iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2) includes a brand new password manager, which aims to make managing all of the credentials stored in your iCloud Keychain much easier.

Passwords, Apple’s new password manager, should sync seamlessly across your macOS, iOS, Vision Pro, and even Windows PCs, giving you even more accessibility to your saved passwords and logins. The new app aims to retain all of the features that made your iCloud Keychain great while offering better methods for synced password storage and organization.

We tried out the beta version of Passwords and have the inside scoop on the app's proposed features and functionality. Read on to discover our favorite feature upgrades as well as our top tested password management alternatives. 

What is the new Apple Passwords app?

In the 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) breakdown, Craig Federighi, Senior VP of Software Engineering, tells the audience that the new Passwords App builds on 25+ years of account login technology to bring you a new, organized way of viewing your stored credentials.^[1]

Apple Passwords aims to be the best password manager for macOS and iOS. To do this, it relies on increased organization and efficiency. With the new app, you can easily navigate between different types of stored account information.

The six Apple Passwords categories are:

• All
• Passkeys
• Codes
• Wi-Fi
• Security
• Deleted

All of your saved information will be stored in the All category. If you need to search through a specific category, like security codes only, you can do so by clicking the corresponding category.

Users can also create groups and share passwords. This new app makes it easier to organize, store, and view all credentials in a single place.

We were able to get our hands on a beta version of iOS 18 and the Passwords App. The mobile version looks similar to the macOS images shared by Apple.

Apple wants you to feel comfortable with the new app, so it provides some suggestions for its use, such as how to use autofill, secure your encryption, and seamlessly sync your saved passwords across Apple devices.

We love the new authenticator feature, which gives you short, one-time passcodes for two-factor or multifactor authentication.

Apple is definitely coming for the password manager market. The best password managers for iOS usually integrate with Windows, so this new ability to do that with your Apple Passwords app is aimed at reducing the external apps you download.

How does iCloud Keychain differ from Apple Passwords?

For years, Apple has touted the convenience and security of iCloud Keychain for storing and auto-filling passwords. It’s been useful, especially if you have a variety of Apple products like an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Until now, there hasn’t been a way to access passwords on a Windows PC.

While there aren’t a ton of major changes, the new organization of your credentials into categories will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for on your phone.

We also love the more intuitive authenticator codes. Right now, they’re kind of buried and difficult to find. This new app makes them much easier to locate and return to when needed.

Overall, the new Passwords app is much cleaner. You’ll have an easier time storing, grouping, recalling, and auto-filling your passwords on all your Apple and Windows PC devices.

Top tested password management apps for iOS and macOS

If you’re looking for the best password manager for all your devices, you may want to consider the top password management solutions we’ve tested below.

Third-party password managers are usually compatible with more devices and operating systems. Plus, premium solutions offer advanced security features like a password generator, password health checker, data breach alerts, and more.

Best for	Overall	Chromebooks	iPhones
Price range	Free–$3.69/mo	Free–$2.66/mo	$2.99-$4.99/mo
Free version
# of users	1	Up to 5	Up to 5
Compatibility	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Chrome OS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Brave	Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Brave
Password generator
2FA or MFA	MFA	2FA	2FA
Encryption	xChaCha20	AES-256	AES-256
Learn more	Get NordPass	Get RoboForm	Get 1Password

Is Apple Keychain a good password manager?

We use Apple’s iCloud Keychain and think it’s a minimally interactive feature that allows us to store credentials, generate complex passwords, and share logins. We haven’t been in love with it because of its bare minimum features, but the release of the Passwords app is renewing our excitement over our built-in manager.

For us, the Keychain feature is good because we’re Apple users who like having our passwords synced across all our devices. If we were iPhone and iPad users with a PC, however, we would be disappointed in the lack of connectivity. The fact that the new Passwords app will work on Windows is great. Now all we need is Android compatibility so we can share the streaming passwords with our family members.

How to set up iCloud Keychain on iPhone

Your iCloud Keychain account is standard on an iPhone and should prompt you to set it up when you activate your new phone. If you didn’t get the auto sign-up or declined and have now changed your mind, it’s extremely simple to toggle on.

1. Go into Settings.
2. Click your name.
3. Choose iCloud.
4. Tap Passwords and Keychain.
5. Toggle on.
6. Enter your Apple ID and password if prompted.

That’s it. Now your iCloud Keychain is on. Whenever Apple prompts you to store password information, clicking Yes will store those credentials in your keychain.

FAQs

Bottom line

We’re excited that Apple decided to improve its password management options. The new OS updates seem to make storing and managing passwords a cleaner experience. Considering we use Apple’s iCloud Keychain to manage our passwords, we’re confident this new update will improve the experience for us and other users.

Using a password manager combined with complex passwords, biometrics, and multifactor authentication greatly reduces your chances of being hacked. If you don’t want to use the new Apple Passwords app or you’re looking for a more robust option, we recommend NordPass, RoboForm, or 1Password. Each of these tested password management solutions gives you the opportunity to include family members and share passwords securely.