Apple Takes A Bite Out Of Passwords With Passkeys — But You Need iOS 17

Apple Inc. AAPL has joined forces with Alphabet Inc. GOOG GOOGL to embark on an ambitious quest to eradicate passwords from existence and pave the way for a password-free future. 

What Happened: At the Worldwide Developer Conference or WWDC 2023, Apple unveiled its latest software updates, iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, which introduced a groundbreaking feature to eliminate the need for passwords. 

Building upon its years-long efforts to reduce consumer reliance on traditional passwords, Apple’s new feature, passkeys, aims to assign users unique passkeys tied to their Apple IDs automatically. 

See Also: Google’s Swipe At Apple Over Texting Standards Draws Chuckles, Claps At I/O 2023

This week, developers using iOS 17 beta started noticing that "Passkeys" are now live and could be used to sign in to Apple.com. These passkeys can serve as replacements for individual passwords across various internet accounts.

The passkey system allows users to sign into websites and apps on non-Apple devices using only their iPhones, leveraging the convenience and security of Touch ID or Face ID verification. With the passkeys seamlessly synced across all Apple devices through iCloud’s keychain feature, the hassle of remembering and managing multiple passwords becomes a thing of the past. 

Apple has also reportedly extended the passkey functionality to non-Apple computers, enabling users to unlock accounts on internet browsers like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge by scanning a QR code. 

In beta testing for MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads, passkeys allow users to log into iCloud and Apple’s website without relying on traditional passwords. 

Why It's Important: In 2022, Apple, Microsoft Corporation MSFT, and Google came together to support a new sign-in standard by the FIDO Alliance. 

Last month, the Sundar Pichai-led company rolled out passkey support across major platforms, offering users an alternative login option alongside passwords and two-step verification (2SV). 

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