Apple announced at WWDC 2023 that it will automatically assign an Apple ID passkey to users who have updated to iOS 17 or macOS Sonoma. Passkeys are a new type of passwordless login that are more secure and convenient than traditional passwords.

What are passkeys?

Passkeys are a type of cryptographic key pair stored in iCloud Keychain. When you sign in to a website or app that supports passkeys, your device will generate a public key that is sent to the website or app. The website or app then generates a private key stored on its servers. These two keys create a secure connection between your device and the website or app.

Passkeys are more secure than traditional passwords because they are never stored in plain text. Your passkeys cannot be stolen even if a website or app is hacked. Passkeys are also more convenient than traditional passwords because you do not have to remember them. Instead, you can sign in to websites and apps by scanning a QR code or using Touch ID or Face ID.

How will Apple assign passkeys?

Apple will automatically assign passkeys to users who have updated to iOS 17 or macOS Sonoma. When you sign in to a website or app that supports passkeys for the first time, your device will generate a passkey and store it in iCloud Keychain. The next time you sign in to that website or app, your device will use the passkey to authenticate you without you having to enter any passwords.

How do I use passkeys?

To use passkeys, you must have updated your device to iOS 17 or macOS Sonoma. Once you have updated your device, you can sign in to websites and apps that support passkeys by scanning a QR code or using Touch ID or Face ID.

Here are the steps on how to use passkeys:

  1. Go to the website or app that you want to sign in to.
  2. If the website or app supports passkeys, you will see a prompt to scan a QR code or use Touch ID or Face ID.
  3. If you choose to scan a QR code, use your device's camera to scan the QR code displayed on the website or app.
  4. If you choose Touch ID or Face ID, place your finger on the Touch ID sensor or look at your device's camera.
  5. You will be signed in to the website or app.

How secure are passkeys?

Passkeys are very secure. They are never stored in plain text and are protected by end-to-end encryption. Even if a website or app is hacked, your passkeys cannot be stolen.

How convenient are passkeys?

Passkeys are very convenient. You do not have to remember them, and you can sign in to websites and apps by scanning a QR code or using Touch ID or Face ID.

Conclusion

Passkeys are a new type of passwordless login that are more secure and convenient than traditional passwords. Apple will automatically assign passkeys to users who have updated to iOS 17 or macOS Sonoma. If you are looking for a more secure and convenient way to sign in to websites and apps, you should consider using passkeys.