How to Use iCloud Keychains

iCloud Keychain is built into the Apple ecosystem. It is designed to conveniently and securely manage your passwords across all of your Apple devices. With the settings configured correctly your passwords will be accessible on your apple devices logged in with your iCloud. Keychains will offer to help create and store strong passwords when saving passwords. Allowing for a strong and unique password for all your logins and easily convenient to use on all of your Apple devices.

How to Access iCloud Keychains

MacOS

Safari

1. Open Safari
2. Open the Safari menu
3. Click Settings
   
4. Select Passwords

System Preferences

1. Click the Apple Menu
2. Select System Preferences
3. Select Passwords

iOS

1. Open the iPad or iPhone settings
2. Tap Passwords

Siri

1. Request a password or to open the app

   • Example phrase: Hey Siri, Please open Passwords
   • Example phrase: Hey Siri,  Please provide me with the password for Spotify

After Opening Passwords you will be prompted to enter your device password, Face ID, or Touch ID. This helps prevent others from accessing your passwords.

How to review my password settings

Settings in Passwords

1. Open iCloud Keychains
2. Open Security Recommendations
3. Ensure “Detect Leaked Passwords” is turned on

   1. This will check your password against known leaks to alert you of breaches

4. Go back to Passwords and select Password Options
5. Ensure AutoFill Passwords and PassKeys is enabled

   1. This will allow Apple to provide you with your password at login screens

6. Use passwords and passkeys from should have iCloud Keychain enabled

   1. This allows the device to use the passwords stored in your iCloud Keychain

Settings in iCloud

1. Open System settings
2. Click your Apple ID
3. Select iCloud
4. Passwords & Keychain should show as on

   1. Click on Passwords & Keychain to switch on Sync this mac as needed

How to create a strong password

With the setting “AutoFill Passwords and PassKeys” turned on, Keychain will automatically offer you a strong password. You will be provided with a Strong password and some other options. A strong password is preferred unless there is an issue with the special characters it contains.

Once you save the password with the site, Keychain will then offer to save the username and password for you. Select to save the password, and now you do not need to remember it any more.

How to view a saved password

1. Open iCloud Keychain
2. Select a site

   1. You can search for a site or username to find them faster

3. Once a site is selected, clicking on the password reveals it

   1. The option to copy the password also become available

How to manage saved passwords

1. Open iCloud Keychain
2. Search for or select a site

   1. Edit

      1. Allows you to change the password in iCloud Keychain

   2. Change Password on Website

      1. Opens the website to aid in updating the password

   3. Delete Password

      1. Deletes the saved username and password

   4. Notes

      1. Allows you to make notes for the password as needed

   5. 

      1. Allows you to airdrop your password
      2. You should never share passwords with people you don’t know or using untrusted sources

How to manually add a password

1. Open iCloud Keychain
2. Select the + sign next to the search bar
   
3. Select New Password
4. Provide a Website

   1. Can Also use this to notate your router or IP Address

5. Provide a Username

   1. This can be the broadcast name for your router

6. Provide a Password

   1. If you are storing an already saved password add your password
   2. If you are making a password use “Create Strong Password”

7. Click Add Password

How to review breached or weak passwords

• Open iCloud Keychain

  1. Security recommendations will alert you
     
  2. A Warning Icon will be shown on any password That meets the following Criteria

     1. Easily guessed
     2. Appeared in a data leak
     3. Reused on another website

• Update any passwords with a warning icon

  1. Clicking the stored website and selecting “Change Password on Site” will get you started

You should be updating any leaked or weak passwords. If you have an overwhelming number of them, start by updating 5 passwords a day. Making the task more manageable.