Both iOS and macOS use keychains to help you track and protect your passwords, credit card numbers, and other similar information that you use regularly across all your various Apple devices. A keychain is an encrypted container that securely stores your credentials for your Mac, apps, servers, and website accounts, as well as highly sensitive financial information such as credit card numbers or bank account PIN numbers.
When you visit a website, add an email account or network server, or join a password protected Wi-Fi network on a Mac, the option to save or remember those details will be offered to you so you don't have to type it again next time.
Apple stores these passwords alongside secure notes, certificates, and keys locally in Keychain Access, but if you enable iCloud Keychain – a neat feature of iOS and macOS – you'll have access to all of the stored information since it is synced automatically across all trusted devices.
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How Do I Access My Passwords in iCloud Keychain on a Mac?
Saving and retrieving a password is easy, but it's only effective if you have enabled AutoFill in Safari preferences. Still, there are times when you might need to know the saved account username and password that are stored in iCloud Keychain, for example when an online service you have signed up to also has a Mac app that requires those same login credentials. It’s here where the hunt for the username and password begins, but fortunately macOS has two ways to access this info.
The easiest way to retrieve the desired username and password in iCloud Keychain is by launching Safari and locating Preferences > Passwords. As you will see, the passwords are protected by your macOS user login password. Each user on a Mac has a login keychain, and the password for your login keychain will match the one that the specific Mac account uses to log in.
After entering the password, the AutoFill usernames and passwords dialog box opens, and you'll see the website information alongside the related credentials as you select the desired item. Using the search field will help you find it more quickly, especially if your list is very long.
The second way to access your passwords is by launching the Keychain Access app. Here you'll find your passwords that are synced with other devices under the iCloud category. The advantage of Keychain Access is that you can also view your secure notes and certificates as well, though the certificates are stored locally.
How to Access My Passwords in iCloud Keychain on an iPhone or iPad?
Unfortunately, this isn't as easy as it should be, but you will need to use this method if you want to access saved passwords and/or credit card information. Follow the steps below if you are running iOS 10 or earlier:
- Open the Settings app.
- Search for Safari.
- In the General section, tap “Passwords”.
- Identify yourself with Touch ID, or enter the passcode if you don't use biometric authentication.
- Use the search field to identify the desired item, and select it with a tap.
- Press and hold the item, and, when prompted, tap “Copy Password”.
- Now you can paste it into the appropriate field.
Access passwords in iCloud Keychain on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 11 or later:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on the “Accounts & Passwords” section.
- Tap “App & Website Passwords”.
- Identify yourself with Touch ID, or enter the passcode if you don't use biometric authentication.
- Use the search field to identify the desired item, and select it with a tap.
- Press and hold the password/username, and, when prompted, tap “Copy”.
- Now you can paste it into the appropriate field.
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