---
url: 'https://www.corbado.com/faq/where-are-passkeys-stored-on-iphone'
title: 'Where are Passkeys Stored on iPhone?'
description: 'Discover where passkeys are stored on iPhone, including iOS Keychain, third-party password managers, and changes in iOS versions for secure authentication.
'
lang: 'en'
keywords: 'passkeys stored on ios, passkeys stored on iphone'
---

# Where are Passkeys Stored on iPhone?

## Where Are Passkeys Stored on iPhone?

Passkeys on iPhone can be stored in the [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain) or
third-party password managers, depending on your [iOS](https://www.corbado.com/blog/webauthn-errors) version.
[iOS](https://www.corbado.com/blog/webauthn-errors) 16 and later versions introduced support for iCloud Keychain,
allowing passkeys to be securely synced across devices. With
[iOS 17](https://www.corbado.com/blog/apple-passkeys-integration) and later, third-party password managers also
gained the ability to store and manage passkeys. In [iOS](https://www.corbado.com/blog/webauthn-errors) 15,
passkeys were device-bound and couldn't be synced or stored in the cloud. In earlier iOS
versions, you couldn't even [create a passkey](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkey-creation-best-practices).

> - Passkeys on iPhone are stored in [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain) or
>   third-party password managers, depending on your iOS version.
> - [iOS 17](https://www.corbado.com/blog/apple-passkeys-integration)+ supports third-party password managers for
>   passkey storage.
> - iOS 16 introduced [iCloud Keychain](https://www.corbado.com/glossary/icloud-keychain) support for syncing
>   passkeys across devices.
> - [iOS 15](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-ios-15) allowed for
>   [device-bound passkeys](https://www.corbado.com/faq/are-passkeys-device-specific).
> - Earlier iOS versions didn't support passkeys / WebAuthn at all.

---

### Understanding Passkey Storage on iPhone

Passkeys are a modern and secure way to authenticate users without relying on traditional
passwords. On an iPhone, the way these passkeys are stored has evolved with each new iOS
update:

- **iOS 17 and Later:** With the introduction of
  [iOS 17](https://www.corbado.com/blog/apple-passkeys-integration), Apple expanded the passkey storage options
  beyond just the iCloud Keychain. Users can now choose to store their passkeys in
  third-party password managers, which can offer additional features like cross-platform
  access. This flexibility enhances the usability of passkeys across different ecosystems
  and platforms.

- **iOS 16:** Before iOS 17, iPhones running iOS 16 supported passkey storage exclusively
  through iCloud Keychain. This allowed users to securely sync their passkeys across all
  their Apple devices using
  [end-to-end encryption](https://www.corbado.com/faq/end-to-end-encryption-passkey-sync), ensuring that only the
  user could access their passkeys. This feature made it easy for users to maintain
  seamless access to their authentication credentials across their iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

- **iOS 15:** In [iOS 15](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-ios-15), passkeys were device-bound, meaning they
  could not be synced across devices or stored in the cloud. This limitation made it
  necessary for users to create new passkeys for each device, which was less convenient
  and somewhat limited the broader adoption of passkeys during this period.

- **Earlier iOS Versions:** Prior to [iOS 15](https://www.corbado.com/blog/passkeys-ios-15), Apple didn't support
  passkeys or WebAuthn at all, so passkeys could neither be created nor used for logins.

### Technical Considerations

- **Security:** Passkeys stored in iCloud Keychain are protected by Apple’s robust
  security infrastructure, including hardware-level encryption and
  [end-to-end encryption](https://www.corbado.com/faq/end-to-end-encryption-passkey-sync). This ensures that only
  the user can access their passkeys, even if iCloud were compromised.

- **Cross-Device Syncing:** The ability to sync passkeys across multiple devices through
  iCloud Keychain in iOS 16+ is a significant advancement, improving both convenience and
  security. Users no longer need to worry about losing access to their passkeys if they
  lose their device.

- **Third-Party Password Managers:** In iOS 17+, users can opt to store passkeys in their
  preferred password managers. These third-party solutions may offer additional features
  such as cross-platform compatibility, which is particularly useful for users who work
  with both Apple and non-Apple devices.

---