Do Passkeys Transfer to a New iPhone?

Do Passkeys Transfer to a New iPhone?#

Yes, passkeys transfer to a new iPhone if they are stored in iCloud Keychain or a third-party password manager. When your passkeys are saved in iCloud Keychain, they are automatically available on all devices signed in with the same Apple ID, including a new iPhone. Additionally, if you use a third-party password manager to store your passkeys, you can access them on a new iPhone by reinstalling the app and signing in.

Passkeys automatically transfer to a new iPhone when stored in iCloud Keychain.
Third-party password managers also support passkey transfers to new devices.
Ensure your devices are signed in with the same Apple ID for seamless passkey access.

How Passkeys Transfer to a New iPhone#

When you get a new iPhone, one of the concerns might be whether your stored passkeys will transfer seamlessly. Here’s how the process works depending on where your passkeys are stored:

iCloud Keychain#

Automatic Transfer: If your passkeys are stored in iCloud Keychain, they will automatically be available on your new iPhone. This is because iCloud Keychain synchronizes data across all devices signed in with the same Apple ID. Once you set up your new iPhone and sign in with your Apple ID, your passkeys will be readily accessible, making the transition to your new device smooth and secure.
End-to-End Encryption: iCloud Keychain data, including passkeys, is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring that only you can access this information. Even Apple cannot read your passkeys, adding an extra layer of security during the transfer process.

Third-Party Password Managers#

Manual Setup Required: If you use a third-party password manager to store your passkeys, you’ll need to install the password manager’s app on your new iPhone and sign in. Once authenticated, your passkeys will sync with the new device, just as they did on your old one.
Cross-Platform Support: Many third-party password managers support cross-platform access, so your passkeys aren’t limited to just Apple devices. This makes it easier to switch between different operating systems while maintaining access to your passkeys.

About Corbado

Corbado is the Passkey Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: which devices, OS versions, browsers and credential managers support passkeys, why enrollments don't turn into logins, where the WebAuthn flow fails and when an OS / browser update silently breaks login, all without replacing Okta, Auth0, Ping, Cognito or your in-house IDP. Two products: Corbado Observe layers observability for passkeys and any other login method. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in (alongside your IDP). VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →