Windows Users: How to Use Your iCloud Passwords in Chrome

If you iPhone and a Windows PC, you know what it’s like trying to make the two platforms work together as seamlessly as possible. From looking for alternatives to iMessage, or installing it iCloud for Windows app In order to access your iCloud Drive files, photos and email, it takes effort on your part to make the symbiotic relationship work.

One aspect missing from Apple’s iCloud on Windows offering was the ability to use your Safari-created passwords on a Windows computer. On Monday, however, Apple released an iCloud Passwords extension for Chrome users, along with an update to the iCloud for Windows app.

The combination of the two features transfers the passwords contained in your iCloud account to your Windows device, making it easier to log in to websites without having to manually type in complex passwords, or worse still, refrain from creating complex passwords in the name of simplicity. Below is what you need to know about the new feature and how to use it.

Here’s what you need to use the new iCloud password feature:

• Two-factor authentication enabled for your Apple ID.

• iOS 14 or later runs on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

• The iCloud for Windows app is installed and set up on your Windows computer. Version 12.0 is the version with the new Passwords feature (according to Apple’s own screenshots).

The iCloud for Windows app listing in the Microsoft Store has a note saying it was recently updated with support for the iCloud Passwords Chrome extension, so it should be available now.

However, I have tried to download the latest version of the iCloud for Windows app on multiple Windows 10 ($ 150 at Amazon) computers, but the store claims I already have the latest version. I currently have version 11.6 installed, but the Passwords feature is included in version 12.0.

If the same thing happens to you, just keep checking in the store to see if the update becomes available, it will probably still roll out to all devices and will eventually become available to everyone.

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Once it is installed, you’ll have a new Passwords option in the list of supported services when you open the iCloud for Windows app. Check the box, which should then prompt you to install the extension if it is not already installed.

If you’re visiting a site for which you have a password saved on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with iCloud Keychain, you can click the iCloud Passwords extension to automatically fill in that information for you.

If nothing else, the new feature should convince you to finally start using a password manager. There’s nothing wrong with using Apple’s iCloud offering, especially since it’s free and now offers support outside of Apple’s own devices.

You can learn more about our top picks for password managers if you’re not sold on iCloud. Do you want more information about the iCloud for Windows app? We have you. How about a collection of hidden features in iOS 14? We have that too.