How Passwords app works on iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia (Ultimate Guide)

Apple already offers a way to manage your passwords in the Settings app in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. But now, in an attempt to make managing passwords easier, Apple’s latest software releases for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro ship with a brand-new Passwords app.

Keep reading, and we’ll show you how to use the Passwords app in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. 

How does Apple’s Passwords app work?

Built on the foundation of Keychain, Apple’s new Passwords app offers a secure way of storing and accessing your important credentials in one place. You can use it to store your passwords, Wi-Fi credentials, Passkeys, and verification codes that are synced across your Apple Devices. 

The Passwords app is a one-stop solution for securely managing your credentials without relying on third-party password managers or 2FA authentication apps. It not only stores your credentials safely but also enables you to organize them by type, share them by creating a shared group, and use them to quickly log in to apps and websites on your devices using the auto-fill functionality. 

To keep your passwords safe and secure, the Passwords app is locked with Face ID on iPhone and iPad, Touch ID on Mac, and Optic ID on Vision Pro.

Additionally, it alerts you about common vulnerabilities, like easily guessed passwords, reused passwords, or those that may have leaked in recent data breaches, prompting you to change them and secure your accounts. 

How to find passwords in the Passwords app in iOS 18 and macOS 15 Sequoia

Viewing a saved password in the Passwords app is pretty straightforward on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You just need to pick a category to find the password from the list. Here’s how it works: 

How to use Passwords app on iPhone

1. Open the Passwords app on your iPhone. 
2. Select a suitable category for the password you want to view.
   • All: This category holds all your passwords and passkeys in one place. 
   • Passkeys: This shows the websites where you can log in using passkeys. 
   • Codes: It holds all the two-factor verification codes that you may be using. 
   • Wi-Fi: This category includes saved Wi-Fi passwords for known networks. 
   • Security: This holds a list of passwords that may have been compromised. 
   • Deleted: Deleted passwords stay here before being permanently removed. 
3. Select an account or entry to view its details.
   
   

How to use Passwords app on iPad and Mac 

1. Launch the Passwords app on your Mac. 
2. Pick a category for the password you want to view from the sidebar. 
3. Select an entry from the second pane, and its credentials should appear on the panel to its right.
   
   

Pro Tip

You can click/tap the ↑↓ icon to open view options and arrange the passwords by title, date created, date edited, and website in descending or ascending order.

How to add passwords in Passwords app

All passwords saved to your iCloud Keychain are automatically added to the new Passwords app in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. But if you need to add passwords manually, here’s how to do it: 

In iOS 18

1. Open Passwords, select All, and tap the + icon in the bottom-right corner. 
2. Add a website, app name, or a label for your password. 
3. Add the relevant username and password for the account. 
4. Add a quick note in the Notes section if required and hit Save.
   
   

In iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia

1. In the Passwords app on your Mac, select All from the sidebar located on the left side. 
2. Tap the + icon in the top-right corner in the All section.
   
   
3. Give a name to this entry.
4. Enter the login details for the account. 
5. If you want to add additional notes, add them and hit Save to save the entry.
   
   

How to add 2FA Codes in Passwords app

Instead of sending an email or a text message, many services require you to scan a QR code or enter a setup key inside an authentication app to get verification codes. Now, you can do the same thing with the Passwords app without relying on third-party apps. Here’s how this works: 

In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

1. Open Passwords on your iPhone or iPad. 
2. Select Codes and tap the + icon.
   
   
3. Depending on your preference, either enter a setup key or tap Scan QR Code with Camera to scan it. 
4. Finally, select a password to add your verification code.
   
   

In macOS Sequoia

1. Launch the Passwords app on your Mac. 
2. Navigate to Codes from the sidebar on the left. 
3. Click the + icon at the top of the second pane.
   
   
4. Enter a setup key or click Add QR Code Image to set up the code. 
5. Now, select a password and tap Add verification code.
   
   

How to edit saved passwords in Passwords app

If you ever need to edit a saved password in the Passwords app, follow the steps below.

In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

1. In the Passwords app on your iPhone or iPad, select a suitable category for the password or simply tap All. 
2. Tap on the password you want to edit and tap Edit in the top-right corner. 
3. Make relevant changes to the username and password.
4. Hit Done to save the changes.
   
   

In macOS Sequoia

1. Open Passwords on your Mac and pick a suitable password category from the sidebar. 
2. Select a username or an account from the second pane. 
3. Click Edit in the third pane and make your changes.
   
   
4. Save them by clicking Save.
   
   

How to delete saved passwords in Passwords app

Want to get rid of a saved password related to a service you don’t use anymore? Then, you can delete the said password from the Passwords app by following the steps mentioned below. 

In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

1. Open Passwords and choose a suitable password category, or simply tap All. 
2. Tap and hold the password you want to get rid of and select Delete.
   
   
3. To delete multiple passwords, tap the select icon in the top-right corner. 
4. Choose all the passwords you want to delete and tap the Delete button.
   
   

In macOS Sequoia

1. In the Passwords app, pick a password category or tap All. 
2. Right-click on an entry you want to delete and select Delete.
   
   
3. When a confirmation dialog appears, click Delete Password to delete it. 

Pro Tip

You can also delete multiple passwords at once. To do so, select the Passwords with the Command ⌘ + Click or Shift ⇧ + Click shortcut and press the delete key.

Once a password is deleted, it’s moved to the Deleted category, where it stays for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can head to this category to restore a password that you’ve trashed mistakenly or even permanently delete a password without waiting for 30 days. 

How to share passwords in Passwords app

Just like other files on Apple devices, you can easily share individual passwords via AirDrop. However, with the Passwords app, you have the option to share multiple passwords with multiple users at the same time by creating a shared group. Here’s how you can do this: 

In iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

1. In the Passwords app, tap the New Group icon in the bottom-left corner and hit Continue.
2. Enter a name for the new shared group and tap on Add People.
   
   
3. Pick the people you want to add to the shared group and tap Add. 
4. After you’ve added all the members to the shared group, hit Create.
   
   
5. Finally, select all the passwords you want to share and tap Move. 

In macOS Sequoia

1. With the Passwords app open, click File from the menu bar and select New Shared Group.
   
   
2. In the Shared Passwords and Passkeys dialog, click Continue.
   
   
3. Enter a name for the new shared group and click Add People. 
4. Select the people you want to add to this group and hit Add. 
5. Hit Create to create the shared group with your chosen contacts.
   
   
6. Finally, choose all the passwords you want to share and click Move.
   
   

Import or export passwords in Passwords app in macOS 15 Sequoia 

Apple’s Passwords app on the Mac gives you extra functionality. It lets you import and export your passwords, which can be helpful, for example, if you ever need to sync passwords saved on a third-party password manager across your Apple devices or create an offline backup of your important credentials. 

Import passwords into Passwords app

1. Launch Passwords on your Mac.
2. Click File in the menu bar and select Import Passwords.
   
   
3. From the dialog that appears on your screen, click Choose File.
   
    
4. Select the relevant CSV file with your passwords and hit Import.
   
   

Export passwords from the Passwords app

1. With the Passwords app open, click the File option in the menu bar.
2. Select Export All Passwords or Export Selected Password.
   
   
3. When a dialog appears, click Export Passwords (or Export Password).
   
   
4. Select a location and name for your password file and hit Save.
   
   

Video: Apple Passwords app: How to use

Signing off… 

Apple’s Passwords app brings all your credentials, including account passwords, Wi-Fi passwords, and passkeys, under one roof, making it easier than ever to store and manage them natively across all your Apple devices. So go ahead, set it up on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and simplify your logins across various apps and websites.

What are your thoughts on Apple’s Passwords app? Let us know in the comments section below. 

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• Best macOS Sequoia features you should know about 
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