iCloud iCloud passwords stored on iPhones

[YapperMac]

Just trying to understand purpose/need for storing my passwords on my iPhone within iCloud
What are the advantages/disadvantages?
How does one view what is currently stored and/or maintain if I want to add or delete items?
Or do not want to share between devices such as other iPhones or iPad?
thanks for your patience

 

[doogm]

Advantages: your passwords sync between all of your Apple devices that are logged in to your iCloud account (as well as Windows devices using iCloud for Windows). If you lose your phone, your passwords will sync from iCloud when you authenticate to a new phone.

Disadvantages: I can't think of one.

How does one view what is currently stored and/or maintain if I want to add or delete items?

iOS and iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia have a discrete passwords app that store all of the passwords. On older OSes, the passwords are stored in Settings / Passwords on mobile devices and in the passwords preference section of Safari on MacOS (though the older OSes don't show WiFi passphrases as the new Passwords app does.)

Or do not want to share between devices such as other iPhones or iPad?

It's not easy, but turn off Settings / Apple Account / iCloud / Passwords & Keychain for the device you don't want them shared. (I say it's not easy because these settings are on by default and passwords should start syncing before you have a chance to turn it off - but IIRC when you turn it off, it offers to keep or remove any passwords that were synced.)

I'm still not sure why you wouldn't want this.

 

[YapperMac]

Advantages: your passwords sync between all of your Apple devices that are logged in to your iCloud account (as well as Windows devices using iCloud for Windows). If you lose your phone, your passwords will sync from iCloud when you authenticate to a new phone.

Disadvantages: I can't think of one.



iOS and iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia have a discrete passwords app that store all of the passwords. On older OSes, the passwords are stored in Settings / Passwords on mobile devices and in the passwords preference section of Safari on MacOS (though the older OSes don't show WiFi passphrases as the new Passwords app does.)



It's not easy, but turn off Settings / Apple Account / iCloud / Passwords & Keychain for the device you don't want them shared. (I say it's not easy because these settings are on by default and passwords should start syncing before you have a chance to turn it off - but IIRC when you turn it off, it offers to keep or remove any passwords that were synced.)

I'm still not sure why you wouldn't want this.

thanks!