Apple Passkeys: Import/Export Preview
- Apple previewed a new feature this week designed to solve a major problem with passkeys: transferring them between devices.
- Demonstrated at WWDC 25, the import/export capability will arrive in upcoming releases of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS.
- This restriction has drawn criticism, with some suggesting it's a tactic by large tech companies to keep users locked into their ecosystems.
Apple is revolutionizing how we manage online security. They’ve previewed a crucial new feature: passkey import/export. This advancement is designed to solve a major limitation, enabling users to easily transfer their passkeys between devices, offering enhanced security against phishing and other password-related attacks. Currently, passkeys often get locked to the operating system or the credential manager where they were first created. Though, this new tool, coming to iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS, addresses this issue by providing a secure, industry-standard way to sync credentials across apps and operating systems. This move gives users more control over their data and removes the risk of being locked out of accounts. The FIDO Alliance and companies like Google, Dashlane, 1Password, and Okta are also innovating in this space. News Directory 3 is following the story closely. Discover what’s next as passkey management becomes even more flexible!
Apple Eases Passkey Transfer Between Devices, Boosting Adaptability
Updated June 12, 2025
Apple previewed a new feature this week designed to solve a major problem with passkeys: transferring them between devices. Passkeys, an industry standard intended to replace passwords, offer enhanced security against phishing and othre password-related attacks.
Demonstrated at WWDC 25, the import/export capability will arrive in upcoming releases of iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. Currently, passkeys are often tied to the operating system or credential manager where they were created. For example, a passkey made on a Mac easily syncs with other Apple devices via iCloud. Though, moving it to a Windows device or even a separate credential manager on the same Apple device has been unfeasible. This new feature promotes passkey management.
This restriction has drawn criticism, with some suggesting it’s a tactic by large tech companies to keep users locked into their ecosystems. Users also worry that the lack of transferability increases the risk of being locked out of accounts if a device storing passkeys is lost or damaged. The FIDO Alliance,a consortium working on the authentication standard,recognizes this issue and is developing interfaces to improve passkey syncing.
Recent analysis of Google’s password manager indicates that developers are actively working on import/export tools, though a release timeline is not yet available. earlier this year, Google added a feature to transfer passwords to iOS apps, but the process remains cumbersome. The FIDO Alliance reports that companies like Dashlane, 1Password, and Okta are involved in developing more flexible solutions for passkey management.
“People own their credentials and should have the flexibility to manage them where they choose,” said the narrator in Apple’s video. “This gives people more control over their data and the choice of which credential manager they use.”
The transfer feature, which will also support passwords and verification codes, aims to provide a secure, industry-standard method for syncing these credentials across apps and operating systems. This enhancement to passkey management will give users more options.
What’s next
As the FIDO Alliance continues its work and companies implement these new features, users can expect greater flexibility in managing their digital credentials across various platforms and devices.