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    3 min read 6 stepsMay 5, 2026Verified May 2026

    How to Use the Built-In Passwords App on iPhone

    iPhone now includes a free Passwords app that saves and auto-fills your passwords across all your devices. Here is how to set it up.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    3 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    passwords
    iphone
    apple
    security
    seniors
    icloud

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Find the Passwords app on your iPhone
    2. 2.Let Passwords import what you already have
    3. 3.Add a password manually
    4. 4.Turn on Sign in with Apple where possible
    5. 5.Set up sharing with a spouse or family member
    6. 6.Review security warnings
    1

    Find the Passwords app on your iPhone

    ~17s
    On any iPhone running iOS 18 or later, the Passwords app is pre-installed. Swipe left until you reach the App Library, search for "Passwords," and tap it. The first time you open it, the iPhone asks for Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to unlock the vault.
    2

    Let Passwords import what you already have

    ~15s
    If you have ever asked Safari to save a password, those passwords are already in the Passwords app. Look at the list — you may be surprised how many are there. The app organizes them alphabetically by website name.
    3

    Add a password manually

    ~26s
    Tap the "+" button to add a password. Enter the website (like "chase.com"), your username, and the password. Save. Next time you visit that website on your iPhone or Mac, the iPhone offers to fill in your saved password automatically.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Use a unique password for every website. The Passwords app suggests a strong unique password every time you sign up for a new site — tap "Use Strong Password" when offered. The app remembers it for you.

    4

    Turn on Sign in with Apple where possible

    ~15s
    Many websites offer "Sign in with Apple" as a sign-in option. This skips passwords entirely — Apple verifies your identity and the website never sees your real email address. Where available, use this option to reduce your password list.
    5

    Set up sharing with a spouse or family member

    ~18s
    For shared accounts (like a streaming service or shared utilities), tap a password, then "Share with Family." Family members you have added in your iCloud Family Sharing group can view and use the shared password. Useful when one spouse manages most accounts but the other needs occasional access.
    6

    Review security warnings

    ~16s
    Tap "Security" inside the app. The Passwords app shows you any passwords that have been part of known data breaches (when companies accidentally leak passwords), reused across sites, or weak. Update these one by one — the app provides a link directly to each website's password change page.

    You Did It!

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    Starting with iOS 18, every iPhone includes a free Passwords app that saves your passwords, fills them in automatically when you sign into websites and apps, warns you about reused or compromised passwords, and syncs everything to your other Apple devices through iCloud.

    This means you do not need to remember every password. You only need to remember your iPhone passcode (or use Face ID/Touch ID), and the Passwords app handles the rest. It is also a free alternative to paid password managers like 1Password or LastPass — for many people, it covers everything they need.

    Passwords saved here are encrypted with end-to-end encryption, meaning even Apple cannot read them. Only you, signed into your Apple ID with Face ID or your passcode, can unlock the vault.

    (Sources: Apple Support — Passwords app, support.apple.com/passwords)

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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

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