How to set up and use passkeys on iPhone

Difficulty
Beginner
Tested on
iOS 18.4 - iPhone 15 Pro
You will need
iPhone with iOS 16 or later, iCloud Keychain enabled

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Enable iCloud Keychain

    Open the Settings app and tap your Apple Account name at the top. Select iCloud, tap Passwords & Keychain, and ensure the toggle for Sync this iPhone is set to On.

    Note: Passkeys cannot function without iCloud Keychain enabled.
  2. 1 min

    Sign in to the service

    Navigate to the website or app account security settings in Safari or your browser of choice. Locate the Sign-in & Security or Passkeys section within your account profile.

  3. 30 sec

    Generate the passkey

    Select the option to create or add a passkey. When the system prompt appears, confirm by tapping Continue or Save Passkey.

  4. 30 sec

    Authorize with Face ID

    Look at your iPhone when prompted to authenticate via Face ID. If requested, provide your device passcode to finalize the creation of the passkey.

    Note: This links your biometric data to the account, replacing the need for a typed password.
  5. 1 min

    Manage saved passkeys

    Navigate to Settings, select Passwords, and authenticate with Face ID. Review the list to confirm your new passkey appears under the associated domain name.

    Note: You can delete or manage passkeys from this menu at any time.