Sign in with passkeys on iPad

Passkeys give you a simple and secure way to sign in without passwords by relying on Face ID (supported models) or Touch ID (supported models) to identify you when you sign in to supporting websites and apps.

Intro to passkeys

Based on industry standards for account authentication, passkeys are easier to use than passwords and far more secure.

A passkey is a cryptographic entity that’s not visible to you, and it’s used in place of a password. A passkey consists of a key pair, which—compared to a password—profoundly improves security. One key is public, registered with the website or app you’re using. The other key is private, held only by your devices. Through the use of powerful, industry-standard cryptography techniques, this key pair helps ensure a strong, private relationship between your devices and the website or app. A passkey has these additional characteristics and conveniences:

It’s always strong and never guessable by a hacker.
It’s linked only with the website or app it was created for, thereby protecting you from getting tricked into using a passkey to sign in to a fraudulent website or app.
Your iPad stores the passkey in iCloud Keychain, so it’s available on all your devices where you’re signed in with your Apple ID (iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, or tvOS 16 required).
It’s end-to-end encrypted in iCloud Keychain, so no one—not even Apple—can read it.
The private key never leaves your devices, so it can’t be leaked from websites or apps.
There’s nothing about it that you have to create, guard, or remember.
You can use AirDrop to securely share a passkey with someone else.
You can use a passkey on your iPad to sign in to an account on non-Apple devices.

Passkeys on iPad require that you use iCloud Keychain. If you don’t have iCloud Keychain turned on when you try to save a passkey, you’ll be asked to turn it on. Passkeys also require that two-factor authentication is enabled for your Apple ID.

Note: Passkeys are an industry-wide security standard, and many websites and apps are quickly adding passkey support.

Save a passkey for an account

Depending on the website, browser, or app, saving a passkey to your iPad and iCloud Keychain usually consists of steps similar to these.

On your iPad, do one of the following:
- For a new account: On the account sign-up screen, enter an account name.
- For an existing account: Sign in with your password, then go to the account management screen.
When you see the option to save a passkey for the account, tap Continue.
Your passkey is saved.

Note: If you want to save your credentials to an external security key or to a different device not associated with your Apple ID, you may be able to select Other Options, Save on Another Device, or similar (instead of Continue). Then follow the onscreen instructions.

Save a passkey to your iPad while using a computer or device that’s not your own

While using a device that’s not associated with your Apple ID (such as a computer at a public library, internet café, or friend’s house), you can save a passkey to your iPad (and iCloud Keychain) instead of to the other device. Saving a passkey to your iPad usually consists of the following steps:

On the other device, do one of the following:
- For a new account: On the account sign-up screen, enter an account name.
- For an existing account: Sign in with your password, then go to the account management screen.
When you see the option to save a passkey for the account, select Other Options, Save on Another Device, or similar (instead of Continue).
Tap “Save a passkey on a device with a camera” or similar, then follow the onscreen instructions to display a QR code on the screen.
Use your iPad camera to scan the QR code.

Sign in to an account on your iPad with a passkey

Depending on the website, browser, or app, signing in with your passkey usually consists of steps similar to these.

On the sign-in screen for the website or app, tap the account name field.
Tap the account suggested at the bottom of the screen or near the top of the keyboard.
If your iPad has Touch ID, follow the onscreen instructions to verify your identity. Otherwise, Face ID verifies your identity.

Note: If you want to sign in on your iPad using a passkey that’s stored on a different device not associated with your Apple ID, you may be able to select Other Options (or similar) instead of Continue. Then follow the onscreen instructions.

Sign in on a different device with the passkey stored on your iPad

iPad stores your passkeys in iCloud Keychain, so they’re automatically used whenever you’re signed in with your Apple ID on another device (iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, or tvOS 16 required).

However, if you use a device that’s not associated with your Apple ID (such as a computer at a public library, internet cafe, or friend’s house), you can still sign in to an account by using the passkey stored on your iPad. Signing in usually consists of the following steps:

Use the other device to go to your account sign-in screen.
On the sign-in screen, tap the account name field.
Tap “Other options,” “Passkey from nearby device,” or similar, then follow the onscreen instructions to display a QR code on the screen.
Use your iPad camera to scan the QR code.

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iPad User Guide