Definition
Passwords is Apple’s system app for managing passwords, passkeys and verification codes. Apple’s Passwords User Guide describes it as the place to find the password credentials for all your websites and apps, in one place, across all your devices; the guide covers passwords, passkeys, verification codes, Wi-Fi and iCloud Keychain. See the official user guide.
How it works
The app is built into the system rather than installed separately; credentials sync end-to-end encrypted across approved devices through iCloud Keychain. Per the official guide, features include finding, creating, changing and recovering passwords, viewing the history of changes to a password, passkey or verification code, sharing with one person or a group, and importing and exporting. The app also provides Security Recommendations, which suggests replacing weak or compromised passwords. When signing in, the system offers matching credentials and confirms them with Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode.
Usage
Looking up the password for a website or app, with multiple usernames supported under one site; acting on passwords flagged as weak or compromised in Security Recommendations; sharing a password group with family; importing from another password manager or exporting when switching devices. Two-step verification codes live in the app as well, so a separate authenticator app is not required.
Related and confusable terms
- The Passwords app vs. iCloud Keychain: the app is the interface for viewing and managing; Keychain is the sync mechanism. They are not competing products.
- vs. third-party managers such as 1Password: third-party products are cross-platform and broader in scope, while Passwords is built into Apple systems and integrates with them more deeply; the choice depends on your device mix and needs.
- The Passwords app vs. “your Apple Account password”: the app manages credentials for individual websites and apps; the password of the Apple Account itself is managed in the account section of system settings.
In this episode
In Weekly #007, in the chapter “密码管理：随机密码、通行密钥与换设备” (Password management: random passwords, passkeys and switching devices), 杨攀 (Yang Pan) says his passwords live in Apple’s Keychain, the app is called Passwords after the product’s form evolved, and on his Mac a fingerprint confirms the fill; he also describes opening Passwords on his phone, searching by website or app, seeing multiple usernames under one site, and revealing a password to type it manually. This is one participant’s personal setup. See the episode 007 chapter (Chinese transcript).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Passwords app for?
It is Apple’s built-in app for keeping website and app passwords, passkeys and verification codes in one place, synced across devices with iCloud Keychain and used for autofill. The feature set is in the official user guide.
Where do I find the Passwords app?
It comes with Apple systems: it appears as the Passwords app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, with no separate download; the official guide has getting-started steps for each platform.
What does the “compromised password” warning mean?
The app’s Security Recommendations feature flags weak passwords and passwords that have appeared in data leaks, suggesting replacements; the feature’s scope is described in the guide’s Security Recommendations section, and the reason for a specific warning is explained inside the app.
Can I export my passwords?
The official guide includes import and export sections for migrating from other password managers or moving data between setups; the steps are in the guide’s Import and export part.