MacFormat UK – June 2019

Password overhaul APPLE SKILLS

macformat.com @macformat JUNE 2019 | MACFORMAT | 47

HOW TO Use Safari password suggestions on Mac >

HOW TO Use AutoFill for your passwords >

1

Generation game

Avoid reusing simplistic passwords by

getting Safari to generate tough ones for

you. First, go to Safari > Preferences >

AutoFill and tick the boxed marked ‘User

names and passwords’. This is required

for the walkthrough below, too.

2

Autosuggestion

When creating a new account on a

website, click the password field. If you

have set up iCloud Keychain, Safari will

automatically suggest a unique, strong

password for you to use. Click that to

have it saved to your keychain.

3

Under lock and key

If you aren’t using iCloud Keychain,

click the password field, then click the

key icon on the right. Select Suggest

New Password from the pane that

appears in order to use a password

generated by Safari.

1

Saved accounts

When you start to log in to an online

service in Safari on either iOS and

macOS, you will see a list of accounts

Safari has saved for you. Click or tap

the one you want to log in with and

your data is automatically filled out.

2

Other options

On Mac, click Other Passwords to

use an alternative account you’ve saved

for a site. On iOS, tap the key, then tap

Other Passwords – or, if you have multiple

password managers, the name of the one

to use – then choose an account.

3

Synced passwords

One benefit of using iCloud Keychain

is that your saved passwords will be

synced to all your devices. You will then

be able to use AutoFill on any of those

devices to automatically fill in saved

account details when they are required.

AutoFill & third-party managers

If you’re using iOS 12 and you use a third-party password manager, you can

set that to autofill your passwords instead of iCloud Keychain. Go to Settings >

Passwords & Accounts > AutoFill Passwords and turn on this feature. Once that’s

done, tap your password manager of choice. Now when you go to enter a

password, your iOS device will allow you to select a password stored in your

chosen manager. Like iCloud Keychain, third-party password managers can

sync your passwords to any devices that have the same manager installed.

You don’t have to use Apple’s password manager