Technical matters: How to use new iCloud passwords on your computer | News, sports, work

With the release of iOS 18, Apple introduced a new Passwords app that makes it easy to manage your login information in one place. Once your iPhone is updated, you can go a step further and connect the app to your Windows PC, which will ensure coordinated password management on both devices.

While Apple devices typically work best together, Apple hasn’t left PC users completely out of the loop. If you use both an iPhone and a Windows computer, you can still sync passwords on both devices using iCloud Passwords. With Passwords, you’ll avoid the hassle of not being able to access your complex Apple-generated password from your phone on your computer – reducing the need to reset passwords.

To get started, you need to install iCloud for Windows, which is available in the Microsoft Store. Once installed, open iCloud for Windows and sign in with your Apple ID, the same one you use on your iPhone. For each app or feature, click “Sync” and then “Finish Setup.”

Once you’ve set up iCloud passwords, the app lets you manage everything: add, edit, or delete passwords and account information. If you’ve already used iCloud Keychain on your Apple devices, the experience will be very similar.

Adding new accounts or updating existing ones is easy. Open the iCloud Passwords app on your computer, sign in, and click the “Add” button. Here you can enter your website, username and password – just like you would on an Apple device. You have the option of allowing the system to generate a strong password, which will save you the hassle of coming up with a new one every time you need to set up an account. But I assure you, you won’t remember them. These passwords will be stored in iCloud, so they’ll always be available even if you lose your device.

Want to delete your account? It’s as simple as adding one. Open the iCloud Passwords app on your computer, sign in, and select the account you want to delete. Click “Delete” and the file will disappear – not only from your computer, but also from your iPhone. This will ensure you don’t leave any unused or outdated accounts.

Many websites now require two-factor authentication (2FA) to keep your accounts more secure, and the iCloud Passwords app on Windows handles this as well. Passwords allow you to set up and store automatic verification codes. This way, you can benefit from the security of two-factor authentication without relying on SMS messages or additional applications. To set up an automatic verification code, open Passwords, select “All,” and then select a website or app. In the Security section, select “Set up verification code.”

Although you can manage passwords on your computer, some features are reserved for iPhone. For example, if you use Apple’s Shared Group feature to securely share passwords with family members or other trusted people, you’ll need to manage these groups on your iPhone. However, once configured, shared passwords will be available on your Windows computer. Group members can add passwords, keys and sign in using Apple credentials. When your shared credentials change, they will change on each device. To set up a shared password group, open the Passwords app on your iPhone and tap “New Group.” Name your group and add people from your contacts. Potential group members must be running iOS 17 or later, so if you see a message saying they can’t be added for this reason, ask them to update their phone. Click “Create” and you’ll see a list of passwords you can share with your new group. You can choose to notify them. In the future, you will receive notifications whenever someone else is invited to the group.

If you use both an iPhone and a Windows computer, Apple’s iCloud Passwords offer a convenient way to secure and sync your accounts across platforms. Although some features, such as managing shared passwords, require an Apple device, you can still perform most password management tasks directly on your computer. This is a practical solution for anyone who juggles both operating systems.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for over a decade. As a mother of four children, my priority is value, usability and safety on the Internet. Have a question? Email Leslie at [email protected].