Apple’s Passwords app is the default option for iOS and macOS users to save and access their credentials. While Passwords isn’t the most robust password manager on the market, it works well for those in the Apple ecosystem. (It also helps that it’s free). If you dig a little deeper, you’ll find features and services that make this app a great option for anyone looking to keep their digital lives private. Here are 10 hacks to make the most of Apple’s Passwords app.
Use Safari to import your credentials from another password manager on iPhone
If you’re transitioning to Passwords from another password manager, you can bulk import your logins via CSV file on the Mac app by going to File > Import Passwords from File. Choose the CSV you’ve exported, follow any prompts that appear to map columns to specific data fields, and click Import. If you are iOS-only, however, it’s not as straightforward. You can still do CSV imports, but you have to go through Safari. Save the CSV you want to upload to Passwords in Files (you can directly export from most other password manager apps to Files on your phone), then go to Settings > Apps > Safari > Import. Click Import from Files > Choose File, locate the CSV, and click Import to Safari. Your credentials will populate in Passwords, and iOS will prompt you to delete the CSV immediately to keep your data secure.
Use notes to store security questions or recovery keys
When you create a new account, you may occasionally have additional authentication information you need to save for later, such as security questions or recovery keys. Instead of saving these elsewhere on your device or hoping you remember them later, add them to the Notes field under your username and password. This ensures they are secure and keeps them accessible for future use. Locate the item in the Passwords app, tap Edit, copy and paste or type in your notes, and hit Save. Alternatively, you can hit the “Notes” line itself to start editing.
Add item labels to notes to find them more quickly in search
Another use for the Notes field is for credential tags. Passwords doesn’t have a long list of specific form fields or separate labels like some other password managers, but anything you put in Notes is searchable. This is especially helpful if you have multiple accounts for certain services (like Google), as you can add “work account,” “personal,” or other relevant tags to this field and search for those terms specifically to pull up the correct item.
Add verification codes to Passwords instead of another authenticator app
If you have accounts that allow or require multi-factor authentication (MFA) via time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs), you can add these to Passwords instead of downloading yet another app. (As a reminder, you should choose a strong form of MFA wherever possible.) Set this up by scanning the QR code on the website or app with your iPhone, or go to Passwords > All > [Account Name] > Edit > Set Up Code and enter the setup key from the website or app. Codes appear in their own section of Passwords as well as within the item record. Your iPhone can then suggest verification codes for autofill. Note that if you have multiple authenticator apps on your device, you may need to go to Settings > General > Autofill & Passwords > Set Up Codes In and select Passwords as the default.
Use this hidden gesture to quickly search items in Passwords
If you need to quickly find an item in Passwords, you can do so in just a single tap with a shortcut on your device’s home screen—no need to locate the app on your phone and navigate to the search bar. Open Shortcuts and tap the plus sign to add a new shortcut. Scroll down and tap Passwords > Search in Passwords. Select Ask Each Time for the text field. Tap the down arrow at the top, followed by Add to Home Screen. You can also add it to Back Tap, which will launch your shortcut with two or three taps on the back of your iPhone. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, tap Double Tap or Triple Tap, and choose the shortcut you created as your action. When you launch the shortcut, enter a search term and click Done, and Passwords will open with your results.
Generate a QR code to share your wifi credentials
If you have guests who want to join your wifi network, you don’t need to give them the network credentials individually. Passwords will generate a QR code for the network you’re currently connected to, and all others need to do is scan it with their device. In the Passwords app, go to Wi-Fi, tap your current network (highlighted at the top), and click Show Network QR Code.
Create a shared group to give other people access to specific credentials
Sending usernames and passwords back and forth via text isn’t necessarily efficient or secure. Passwords allows you to AirDrop items if the recipient is nearby, but you can also create shared groups with trusted contacts and add credentials that those contacts will see in their Passwords app. When anyone in the group updates a login, it refreshes for everyone. This is especially useful if you share streaming or billing accounts with family members or friends, or if you want to allow temporary access to guests whom you can remove from the group later.
To create a shared group, tap the folder icon on the main Passwords screen, followed by Continue. Add a group name, then tap Add people to send invites. (Eligible contacts will be in blue.) Select the passwords you want to share and tap Move. If you are the group owner, you can add or remove members and passwords at any time.
Use a passkey on your iPhone to sign in on untrusted devices
With passkeys, Apple Passwords allows you to skip entering your credentials on public devices—such as library computers or borrowed devices—and sign in with your iPhone instead. This means you don’t have to type your password into a form field on an untrusted device, which could expose your information to keyloggers or other security risks. For apps and websites that support passkeys, go to the login page and enter your username, then look for Sign in with passkey and choose More options (or something similar) to get a QR code. Scan with your iPhone camera to use your passkey.
Hide compromised passwords you can’t address right now
The Security section of Passwords shows you credentials that are weak or have been compromised in a breach. There’s even a link to change your password on the app or service’s website. However, there may be occasions when you can’t or don’t want to address a security issue: You might have an account that requires a simple password, or an account that is no longer in use. (Make sure that the password isn’t repeated for any other login, regardless.) In these cases, you can dismiss the alert by opening it and tapping Hide so it no longer appears as a recommendation.
Access Passwords on your PC with iCloud for Windows
Passwords is optimized for users who operate entirely within the Apple ecosystem, and the standalone app is limited to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. However, if you need to access your items on a PC, you can use the iCloud for Windows app from the Microsoft Store as a workaround. Download the app, sign in with your Apple ID, and follow the prompts to complete the setup process. To enable iCloud Passwords, either click the arrow next to Passwords and Keychain and turn on Passwords & Keychain, or click Approve below and enter the code sent to your trusted device. You can also install the appropriate browser extension from this view.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
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