iCloud Keychain Setup on OS X Mavericks and iOS

This guide walks you through enabling iCloud Keychain on OS X Mavericks and iOS devices, so your passwords, credit card info, and Wi-Fi networks stay in sync across your Apple devices. You’ll need an iCloud account with two-step verification set up, and all devices should be signed into the same Apple ID.

What You’ll Need

• An Apple ID with two-step verification or two-factor authentication enabled
• OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later on your Mac
• iOS 7.0.3 or later on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
• iCloud account signed in on all devices
• A trusted phone number for verification codes

Step-by-Step

On Your Mac (OS X Mavericks)

1. Open System Preferences from the Apple menu () or Dock.
2. Click iCloud.
3. If not already signed in, enter your Apple ID and password, then click Sign In.
4. In the iCloud preferences list, check the box next to Keychain.
5. You’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID password again to approve the action. Enter it and click OK.
6. A dialog appears asking for a Security Code. This is the code you created when you set up iCloud Keychain. If you don’t remember it, click Forgot? and follow the reset process.
7. After entering the code, you’ll be asked to Approve this Mac. Click Approve.
8. If you have other devices already using iCloud Keychain, you may be asked to enter a verification code sent to one of those devices or to your trusted phone number. Enter that code.
9. Once approved, iCloud Keychain is active on your Mac. You can now use Safari’s AutoFill for passwords and credit cards.

On Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (iOS)

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name at the top to access your Apple ID settings. (If you’re on iOS 7, tap iCloud directly.)
3. Tap iCloud.
4. Scroll down and tap Keychain.
5. Toggle iCloud Keychain to On.
6. If prompted, enter your Apple ID password to approve.
7. You’ll be asked to enter your iCloud Keychain Security Code. Enter it.
8. If you have other devices, you may need to approve this device from one of them. A notification will appear on your Mac or other iOS device—click Allow and enter the displayed code on the new device.
9. Once enabled, Safari will offer to save and autofill passwords, and your saved credit cards will appear in Settings > Safari > Passwords & AutoFill.

Verify Sync

1. On your Mac, open Safari and log into a website you use regularly. When prompted, choose Save Password.
2. On your iPhone, open Safari and visit the same site. Tap the username field—the saved password should appear in the AutoFill suggestions.
3. If it doesn’t appear immediately, wait a few minutes. iCloud sync can take a little time.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping two-step verification: iCloud Keychain requires two-step verification or two-factor authentication. Without it, the Keychain option won’t appear in iCloud settings.
• Using different Apple IDs: All devices must be signed into the same Apple ID for Keychain to sync.
• Entering the wrong security code: The iCloud Keychain security code is separate from your Apple ID password. It’s a 4-digit (or longer) code you set up when first enabling Keychain.
• Not approving new devices: When adding a new device, you must approve it from an already trusted device. If you skip this, the Keychain won’t activate.
• Turning off Keychain on one device: If you disable Keychain on any device, it stops syncing and may prompt you to disable on all devices. Keep it on everywhere.

Tips

• Use a strong, unique security code and store it somewhere safe. If you forget it, you’ll have to reset iCloud Keychain, which removes all saved passwords from iCloud.
• Enable AutoFill in Safari on both Mac and iOS for the best experience. On Mac, go to Safari > Preferences > AutoFill. On iOS, go to Settings > Safari > AutoFill.
• To add a credit card, go to Safari > Preferences > AutoFill > Credit Card on Mac, or Settings > Safari > AutoFill > Saved Credit Cards on iOS.
• Use the Keychain Access app on your Mac (in Utilities) to view and manage individual passwords, but be careful not to delete items you need.
• If you have many devices, consider setting up a recovery key (a long code) during initial setup. This can help you regain access if you lose all devices.

Troubleshooting

• Keychain option missing in iCloud settings: Make sure you’ve enabled two-step verification at appleid.apple.com. If it’s already on, sign out of iCloud and sign back in.
• Verification code not received: Check that your trusted phone number is correct in Apple ID settings. Also, ensure you have cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. If using SMS, wait a minute and try again.
• Passwords not syncing: Verify that iCloud Keychain is enabled on all devices. Check that all devices are on the same Apple ID. Restart both devices. If the problem persists, toggle Keychain off and on again on each device (this may take a few minutes to re-sync).
• Approval prompt doesn’t appear on other devices: Make sure the other device is connected to the internet and has Keychain enabled. If it’s a Mac, check System Preferences > iCloud > Keychain. If it’s an iOS device, check Settings > iCloud > Keychain.
• Forgot security code: Go to System Preferences > iCloud > Keychain on your Mac, click Forgot? and follow the reset process. You’ll need to create a new code and approve all devices again.
• Keychain won’t turn on after reset: This can happen if there’s a conflict with existing keychains. In that case, you may need to delete the local keychain (in ~/Library/Keychains) after backing up any important items, then re-enable iCloud Keychain. Be cautious—this deletes locally stored passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is iCloud Keychain secure?

Yes. Passwords are encrypted with 256-bit AES and cannot be read by Apple. The security code is used to encrypt the keychain, and two-step verification adds an extra layer.

Can I use iCloud Keychain with third-party browsers like Chrome?

On macOS, iCloud Keychain works with Safari and some other apps that use the system keychain, but not directly with Chrome or Firefox. On iOS, it only works within Safari and apps that use the system password manager.

What happens if I lose all my devices?

If you have a recovery key, you can use it to regain access to your keychain. Without it, you’ll need to reset iCloud Keychain, which erases all stored passwords.

Can I share passwords with family members?

iCloud Keychain doesn’t support sharing passwords between different Apple IDs. You’d need to use a third-party password manager or manually share passwords.

Does iCloud Keychain store Wi-Fi passwords?

Yes, iCloud Keychain syncs saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords across your devices, so you don’t have to re-enter them.

How do I remove a device from iCloud Keychain?

On that device, go to iCloud settings and turn off Keychain. You can also go to appleid.apple.com, under Devices, select the device and remove it from your trusted devices list.

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