Apple is reportedly planning to build a password management app right into the next versions of its iPhone and Mac operating systems. bloombergThis is Mark Gurman on Thursday. The new app, simply called Passwords, will compete with existing password managers like 1Password and LastPass, which typically charge people a monthly fee to create and store unique passwords. Apple plans to unveil the app on June 10 at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
Apple already creates and stores unique passwords through iCloud Keychain, a feature that syncs passwords across all Apple devices you own, not just Windows PCs via a browser extension. However, passwords stored in iCloud Keychain are often a hassle to find or change because they strangely reside in the Settings app. Having a dedicated password app built into Apple devices would not only make this easier, but also give people one more reason to stay in the Apple ecosystem.
Apple’s password app, like its competitors, will reportedly split passwords into different categories such as accounts, WiFi networks, and password keys. Here we explain in detail how it works. It can also import passwords from competing apps, and automatically enters your password when it detects that your device is logging into a website or app. Password also works on Apple’s $4,000 Vision Pro headset, which supports two-factor authentication codes, just like Google Authenticator and Authy. What’s still unclear is whether you can use password apps to securely store files and images in addition to the passwords that both 1Password and LastPass offer.
In addition to Password, Apple is expected to release the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, MacOS, WatchOS and VisionOS on Monday. The new version of the software will reportedly be infused with brand-new AI features.
