# Passkeys Get More Portable With Apple's Latest Update
Apple's Passwords app now lets users export passkeys between applications, removing a major friction point that kept many people locked into a single ecosystem. This portability feature addresses a core security concern: the fear of being trapped with passwordless authentication tied exclusively to one company.
Passkeys replace traditional passwords by using cryptographic keys stored on your device. They're more secure than passwords because they're immune to phishing and credential theft. But adoption has lagged partly because users worried about vendor lock-in. If you stored all your passkeys in Apple's system, switching to another password manager or device ecosystem meant potentially losing access to accounts.
Apple's new export capability changes the equation. You can now move passkeys out of Apple's Passwords app into third-party managers like 1Password, Dashlane, or Bitwarden. This flexibility reduces the switching cost and gives users genuine choice in their security tools.
The timing matters. Google and Microsoft have pushed passkeys aggressively across their platforms and services. Industry adoption is accelerating, with websites like PayPal, GitHub, and Best Buy now supporting passkey authentication. But the infrastructure remains fragmented. Not every site offers passkey support yet, and most users still manage a hybrid system of passkeys and passwords.
Apple's move signals that the company recognizes portability as essential to widespread passkey adoption. If passkeys stay locked behind proprietary walls, they'll never become the password replacement the industry envisions.
For ordinary users, this means less risk in committing to passkeys. You can start using Apple's built-in system without fear that your security setup becomes permanent. If a better passkey manager emerges or you switch devices, you retain control of your authentication data.
The feature rolls out in iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iPadOS 18.