While most passwords we create should be kept strictly private, there are still some accounts or other secrets that we need to share with a limited number of other people. Starting with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma, you can create groups in Apple’s password system to securely share and sync passwords.
Apple imposes some important limitations on sharing:
- Everyone must be running iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or macOS Sonoma (or later, starting this fall) to access items in a shared group.
- They should be in your contact list.
- There is no support for Android or Windows, nor for web-based access.
If this fits your sharing needs, then using Apple’s system might be the best solution as it doesn’t require any additional software or subscriptions.
To start sharing passwords on an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > Passwords.
- Tap the + (plus) sign in the upper right corner and tap New shared group.
- Enter a name in the Group Name field.
- Faucet Add people to populate the group. You can browse the list or start typing their email address, phone number, or name. If a person meets the above criteria to be part of a shared group, their contact item appears in blue.
- Faucet Create.
- Choose the passwords you want to share with the group and tap Move. These passwords are moved from your personal entry store to this shared group. (You cannot share the same entry with multiple groups.) You can press Not now to avoid adding more until later.
- Choose whether or not you want to notify people you’ve added to the group, which alerts them of an invitation. If you choose not to, they’ll still see the invitation in Settings > Passwords > Group invitations.
Create a new sharing group for items that you want to have or give common access to a defined set of people.
Create a new sharing group for items that you want to have or give common access to a defined set of people.
Foundry
Create a new sharing group for items that you want to have or give common access to a defined set of people.
Foundry
Foundry
On macOS:
- Open System Settings and click on the Passwords article.
- Click the + (plus) sign to the right of the search field and choose New shared group.
- Click Create.
- Choose passwords and click Move or click Not now.
- Click Notify via messageswho creates an invitation message, or click Not now.
You can move entries into or out of shared groups:
- On iOS/iPadOS, tap an entry in your master password list or a shared group, then tap the Band context menu to switch between My Passwords or other groups.
- On macOS, Control-click or right-click a password entry in the main list or in a shared group, then choose Move to group > Group NameYou can also click the i (info) icon to the right of the entry, click the Group context menu, select another group, and click Done.
To delete a shared group:
- On iOS/iPadOS, tap the group name, tap Manageand press Delete group.
- On macOS, click the group name, click Manageand click on Delete group.
When you delete the group, Apple warns you that members of the old group may still have access to the passwords you shared, so you should change all of those passwords after you delete the group.
When you delete a group (left), Apple can’t guarantee that former members will lose access to any passwords you shared with them (right).
When you delete a group (left), Apple can’t guarantee that former members will lose access to any passwords you shared with them (right).
Foundry
When you delete a group (left), Apple can’t guarantee that former members will lose access to any passwords you shared with them (right).
Foundry
Foundry
Starting this fall, with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 Sequoia, the Passwords settings panel or view becomes a standalone Passwords app. You’ll manage shared groups within that app.
The new Passwords app (Sequoia version shown above) provides easier access to shared groups and invitations.
The new Passwords app (Sequoia version shown above) provides easier access to shared groups and invitations.
Foundry
The new Passwords app (Sequoia version shown above) provides easier access to shared groups and invitations.
Foundry
Foundry
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