Apple has strict necessities for utilizing a safety key to lock down your Apple ID

Apple this week launched iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2, bringing an overdue characteristic to our Apple gadgets: Security key help for Apple IDs. That means you should utilize a USB-C, Lightning, or NFC dongle because the second issue of authentication as a substitute of the six-digit verification code Apple often sends to a different gadget.

As Apple explains, a bodily key strengthens the two-factor authentication course of and helps stop codes from being intercepted or requested by an attacker. With a safety key, your account authentication is actually in your palms and nobody else has entry to it. However, should you lose your trusted safety keys, you can be locked out of your account completely.

To stop that from taking place, Apple requires two FIDO Certified safety keys to make use of the brand new characteristic so that you’ll have a backup. Among the beneficial keys are NFC, USB-C, and Lightning keys from YubiKey in addition to the Feitan ePass K9 key, although any FIDO Certified key with the correct connector ought to work. Apple notes that NFC keys will solely work on the iPhone and USB-C keys ought to work with an iPhone utilizing a USB-C-to-Lightning adapter.

There are additionally some Apple ID login options that received’t work with safety keys:

• You can’t signal into iCloud for Windows.
• You can’t signal into older gadgets that may’t be up to date to iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, or macOS 13.2.
• Child accounts and Managed Apple IDs aren’t supported.

Additionally, an Apple Watch paired with a member of the family’s iPhone received’t be supported. Apple says you’ll must arrange your watch with your personal iPhone to make use of a safety key.

If you may get previous all that, the method is straightforward. Head over to the Settings app (System Settings on Macs), faucet your Apple ID identify, then Password & Security and Add Security Keys, and observe the prompts to register your key. You’ll want to remain signed into all energetic gadgets to proceed utilizing a safety key. To end the method, you’ll be signed out of any gadgets that haven’t been up to date to iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3, or macOS 13.2.