Passwords have their place, but knowing how to set them on iPhone, iPad, and Mac will make accessing online services much more secure. Although iOS and macOS will suggest unique and complex passwords when you sign in to websites and apps or seek to make changes, a passkey takes security to another level.
When you generate an access key, two keys are effectively created. One ends up stored on your device and another is stored by the website or app. The one on your device, an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, doesn’t leave that device. But when you sign in later (the access keys use TouchID and FaceID to authorize), the two keys are paired. Once there is a match, they let you in.
This improves security in several ways. First, you have the security layer of TouchID and FaceID. Second, hackers can never access the passkey stored on your device. Third, the access keys are encrypted. Fourth, each passkey is unique to a specific account. No one could crack one passkey and apply it to another. So let’s take a look at how to set up passcodes on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Note: Before you start, make sure your devices are up to date. Check out our guides on how to update an iphone, how to update an ipad either how to update a mac.
How to set up passcodes on iPhone, iPad and Mac
The configuration of the access keys requires two steps. You need to activate the access keys first, then you need to generate the access keys. Doing so is different on iPhones/iPads versus Macs, but we’ll cover everything here. The first step is to activate the passkeys.
1a. Activate passcodes on iPhone or iPad
1. Launch the Settings app Y select Passwords.
2. Select Password Options.
3. Enable AutoFill Passwordsafter tap iCloud Passwords & Keychain (so a blue tick appears). This will allow iOS to fill in the password field.
1 B. Activate access keys on a Mac
1. Click on the Apple logotop left and select System Settings.
2. Click on your name at the top of the sidebar and select iCloud.
3. Activate password and keychain.
2a. Create a new passcode on iPhone and iPad
To create a passkey, you’ll need to use a supported website or app. More and more of them will make use of this feature, but you’ll only really know if you verify a service’s account or look to sign up for one.
1. Visit a supporting website or app and look to create an account. Here we are using kayak.co.uk, so the process starts like this: visit the website, select to login via email, Enter your email address Y tap continue.
two. Again, in the case of Kayak, you would need touch Create your account.
3. When prompted to save a password for your email address, simply tap continue. The access key will be created and the session will be started.
2b. Create a new access key on Mac
As with the iPhone and iPad, you’ll need to use a supported website or app.
1. Visit a supporting website or app and look to create an account. Like the iPhone and iPad, we’re using kayak.co.uk here, so visit the website, select to login via email.
two. Now Enter your email address Y tap Continue.
3. Here you would have to touch Create your account.
Four. When prompted, enter your device password either place your browser on the TouchID sensor and the access key is generated.
Change a password to a passkey
What if you already have an account with a website or app and want to use an access key instead of a password?
Simply go to account area of that service and you should see an option called Set Passcode. Tap Set up passkey and you will be asked to save a password as in the previous cases.
And there you go. Now you know how to set up passcodes on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple isn’t the only company using them, so you should see this technology become more widespread in the coming years.
If you want more help with your technology, you’re in luck: we’ve got a variety of tutorials that cover the basics, like how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone, to more complicated processes like how to clear RAM on iPhone and how to wipe the cache on Mac. Just got a new iPhone 14? Learn how to enable action mode on iPhone 14. Windows user? Find out how to enable the Windows 11 privacy camera warning.
