What is iCloud Keychain? How to install, activate and use effectively

iPhone users must have heard of the concept of iCloud Keychain. This article will help you answer some questions and learn what is iCloud Keychain? How to install, activate and use iCloud Keychain effectively.

What is iCloud Keychain?

iCloud Keychain is Apple’s password management system. With iCloud you can store your account names, passwords, and credit card numbers safely and securely on your MacBook, iPhone, or iPad keychain. This information will be synced across all of your iCloud-signed devices .

With iCloud Keychain, you can easily access your passwords or autofill shipping and credit card information . Besides, you can also access passwords stored in iCloud Keychain while in third-party apps.

In addition, iCloud Keychain can also support automatic password generation when you register as a member of a website. This password is often complicated and highly secure, but don’t worry because iCloud Keychain will help you remember this password.

Why use iCloud Keychain?

Why should you use iCloud Keychian? One of the typical examples is that when you log into websites on a Mac, you often have to spend time logging in with your username and password again when using your iPhone or iPad.

However, with iCloud Keychain, you do not need to spend time remembering or losing time to log in because iCloud Keychain will automatically pre-populate thanks to the data that iCloud Keychain transfers from your Mac.

One of the things that makes you should use iCloud Keychain is the ability to remember Wifi Password. If you’ve ever entered the wifi password on any of your iOS devices, the next time you just need to open your Mac, iPhone or iPad, iCloud Keychain will automatically remember and log in for you.

One of the important advantages of iCloud Keychain is its high security . Apple is famous for its high security capabilities, so when using iCloud Keychain you can be completely assured when storing your important information .

Is iCloud Keychain secure?

iCloud Keychain protects your information with end-to-end encryption, providing the highest level of data security . Your data is protected with a key generated from information unique to your device and combined with a device passcode that you only know. No one else can access or read this data, in process or in storage.

Therefore, unless you lose your Mac and someone else knows your Mac password, they can access your entire account, assuming you have iCloud Keychain turned on. Otherwise, make sure that your information is still protected in the most optimal way.

How to set up iCloud Keychain

To use iCloud Keychain, you need iOS 7.0.3 or later on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later on your Mac.

When you update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the latest iOS, the setup assistant asks you to set up iCloud Keychain. Instructions vary based on whether you’re using two-factor authentication or another type of security, like your email, password, or security question.

Case 1: If you are using two-factor authentication

With two-factor authentication, trusted devices are signed in with Apple IDs. That’s why, in most cases, you don’t need to re-approval.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

• Step 1 : Tap Settings > [your name ] > iCloud . For iOS 10.2 and earlier, tap Settings > iCloud.
• Step 2 : Click Keychain .
• Step 3 : Slide to enable iCloud Keychain.

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On a Mac:

• Step 1 : Select Apple menu >> System Preferences >> iCloud.
• Step 2: Select Keychain.

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Scenario 2: If you are using two-step verification or email, password or security question

On iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch:

• Step 1: Select Settings > [your name] > iCloud . For iOS 10.2 and earlier, tap Settings > iCloud.
• Step 2: Touch Keychain and slide to turn it on.
• Step 3: Enter your Apple ID and follow the instructions .

On a Mac:

• Step 1 : Select Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud .
• Step 2: Enter your Apple ID and password and follow the instructions.

How to use iCloud Keychain to manage passwords

On an OS X machine, go to Spotlight (the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen) then type “Keychain Access “ then launch the application.

When the interface window opens, select the iCloud item , now you will see all the accounts, websites, and Wi-Fi network names that iCloud Keychain syncs. To ensure security, all passwords are hidden so you don’t have to worry about information theft.

If you want to delete some information. Just right click on it and select “Delete “. You can also get the website’s login password by right-clicking, then selecting “Copy Password to Clipboard”.

At this point, your computer will display a message asking for a password. If you enter it correctly, the login password to the website is automatically copied to the clipboard , now you just need to go to the place where you need to enter the password and Ctrl + V to paste the password.

Hope this article will help you understand more about iCloud Keychain. Any questions please leave a comment below!