About Safety Keys for Apple ID

A safety secret is a small exterior gadget that appears like a thumb drive or tag, which can be utilized for verification when signing in together with your Apple ID utilizing two-factor authentication.

Safety Keys for Apple ID is an optionally available superior safety function designed for individuals who need further safety from focused assaults, corresponding to phishing or social engineering scams. 

With two-factor authentication — which is designed to just remember to’re the one one who can entry your Apple ID account — it is advisable to present two items of data to check in together with your Apple ID to a brand new gadget or on the net.

• The primary piece of data is your Apple ID password.
• A safety key can act because the second piece of data, as a substitute of the six-digit verification code that’s usually used.

Since you use a bodily key as a substitute of the six-digit code, safety keys strengthen the two-factor authentication course of and assist stop your second authentication issue from being intercepted or requested by an attacker.

You are accountable for sustaining entry to your safety keys. When you lose your whole trusted units and safety keys, you could possibly be locked out of your account completely.

Learn more about two-factor authentication

• A minimum of two FIDO® Licensed* safety keys that work with the Apple units that you just use regularly.
• iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, or macOS Ventura 13.3, or in a while the entire units the place you are signed in together with your Apple ID.
• Two-factor authentication arrange to your Apple ID.
• A contemporary net browser. If you cannot use your safety key to check in on the net, replace your browser to the most recent model or strive one other browser.
• To check in to Apple Watch, Apple TV, or HomePod after you arrange safety keys, you want an iPhone or iPad with a software program model that helps safety keys.

*FIDO® Licensed is a trademark (registered in quite a few nations) of the FIDO Alliance, Inc.

What does not work with Safety Keys for Apple ID

Safety Keys for Apple ID works with any FIDO® Licensed safety key. Some good examples embrace:

• YubiKey 5C NFC (works with most Mac and iPhone fashions)
• YubiKey 5Ci (works with most Mac and iPhone fashions)
• FEITAN ePass K9 NFC USB-A (works with older Mac fashions and most iPhone fashions)

When you select a distinct safety key, it is best to select safety keys which are FIDO® Licensed, and have a connector that works with the Apple units that you just use regularly.

For a whole record of licensed keys from the FIDO Alliance, visit the FIDO® Certified Showcase.

Select the suitable connectors to your gadget

If you use Safety Keys for Apple ID, you want a trusted gadget or a safety key to:

• Register together with your Apple ID on a brand new gadget or on the net
• Reset your Apple ID password or unlock your Apple ID
• Add extra safety keys or take away a safety key

Hold your safety keys in a protected place, and take into account retaining a safety key in multiple place. For instance, preserve one key at house and one key at work. When you’re touring, you may wish to depart one in every of your safety keys at house.

You possibly can add safety keys solely on an Apple gadget with suitable software program. It’s essential to add and preserve not less than two safety keys. You possibly can add as much as six keys.

You want a passcode or password arrange on the gadget that you just use so as to add safety keys.

Throughout arrange, you are signed out of inactive units, that are units related together with your Apple ID that you have not used or unlocked in additional than 90 days. To signal again into these units, replace to suitable software program and use a safety key. In case your gadget cannot be up to date to suitable software program, you will not have the ability to signal again in.

On iPhone or iPad

On Mac