Why Passkey Portability Changes Everything
Passkeys are designed to replace traditional passwords with cryptographic keys tied to your device’s authentication—Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode—making logins both easier and far more resistant to phishing. Until recently, though, there was a major catch: you couldn’t move passkeys between password managers. That meant if you committed to one app and later wanted to switch, your passkeys were effectively trapped, which discouraged many people from adopting them in the first place. New specifications from the FIDO Alliance have solved this lock‑in problem, and Apple was among the first to ship support in its Passwords app. Now you can move passkeys between apps without sacrificing security or convenience. Combined with Apple’s built‑in autofill and strong ecosystem integration, the Apple Passwords app has quietly become a capable hub for passkey management, not just a basic vault for website passwords.
How to Move Passkeys from Apple Passwords to Another App
To move passkeys between apps using the Apple Passwords app, start by installing and setting up your new password manager on the same device that already has your passkeys. Then open Passwords and go to its main screen. Tap the three dots in the upper‑right corner and choose Export Data to Another App. You can manually select only the logins that include passkeys or simply select all saved credentials if you want to migrate everything. Tap Continue, then on the Export Passwords page, tap Continue again. You’ll see a list of compatible password manager apps that support passkey import. Choose your new app, and Passwords will securely hand off your selected items, including passkeys, to it. This process preserves both security and functionality, so you’re no longer locked into a single app just because you embraced passkeys early.
Importing Passwords into Apple Passwords for a Clean Start
If you’re moving into the Apple Passwords app from another manager, you can bulk import your existing logins so everything lives in one place. On a Mac, export your old vault to a CSV file, then open the Passwords app and go to File > Import Passwords from File. Choose the CSV, map any columns to the right data fields when prompted (such as website, username, password, and notes), then click Import to populate your vault. On iPhone, the trick is to go through Safari instead of Passwords directly. Save the exported CSV to the Files app, then navigate to Settings > Apps > Safari > Import. Tap Import from Files > Choose File, select your CSV, and then Import to Safari. The system will load those credentials into the Apple Passwords app and immediately offer to delete the CSV for security, leaving you with a consolidated, more private password and passkey hub.
Turn Apple Passwords into a Full-Fledged Security Hub
Beyond storing login details and passkeys, the Apple Passwords app hides several features that make it a powerful everyday security tool. Use the Notes field in each item to store security questions, recovery keys, or custom labels like “work,” “personal,” or “shared,” all of which become searchable so you can quickly find the right account. You can also add time‑based one‑time passwords (TOTPs) directly into Passwords instead of juggling separate authenticator apps: either scan the site’s QR code with your iPhone or open the item, tap Edit, then Set Up Code to enter the setup key. With this configured, your device can autofill verification codes alongside usernames and passwords. If you want even faster access, create a Shortcut that launches “Search in Passwords” and assign it to your Home Screen or Back Tap, turning your vault into a one‑tap, system‑wide security dashboard.
Share Securely and Simplify Everyday Access
Once your passwords and passkeys are centralized in Apple Passwords, you can take advantage of built‑in sharing and convenience tools. For guests at home, open Passwords, go to Wi‑Fi, tap your current network at the top, then choose Show Network QR Code. Friends can scan it to join instantly without you reading out a complicated password. For ongoing shared access to services—such as streaming, household utilities, or joint subscriptions—create a shared group instead of texting credentials. From the main Passwords screen, tap the folder icon, then Continue to create a new group. Give it a name and add people you trust. Any credentials you add to this group will appear in their Passwords app as well, and when anyone updates a shared login, it syncs for everyone. Combined with passkey portability, these features make Apple Passwords a flexible long‑term solution rather than a limited, locked‑in manager.