How to efficiently re-setup ten emails with 32 random character long passwords

[MalagLagoon]

I just bought a new iPhone 17. I'm coming from an iPhone 7.

I have ten emails each with different passwords and each are 32 random characters long - including symbols.

I have temporarily stuck all of these credentials into "notes" using my laptop so that the iPhone 17 has access to these passwords. The idea is to cut and paste the passwords into the email application.

However, the problem is that I get 10 different windows quickly opening in the iPhone - in rapid succession when I start the email application. This is because every email needs passwords.

Side note: I did "connect" the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 17 and transferred things - identities - photos - iCloud. But for whatever reason every freakin' password for my email must be manually entered.

Also, two of the emails use Microsoft Exchange server - so that's an additional login with a different password (and very likely authentication that needs yet another password).

Anyway, for the most part I can't access anything while setting up email in my iPhone 17 because there are dozens of windows popping up. When these windows pop up I can't access "notes" to retrieve passwords.

Also, I can't switch applications to access notes that has my passwords WHILE entering email passwords. This is so dysfunctional.

Jesus**** this might as well be a **** Microsoft windows system.

Anyway, before I continue dicking around with this nonsense - is there a better way in 2026?

I really don't want to enter a dozen randomized 32 length passwords manually through in iPhone interface. There must be a better way

 

[VineRider]

Try going to settings/apps/mail/mail accounts and see if you can set up the passwords that way (without actually opening up the mail app)

 

[MalagLagoon]

It turns out that I was able to switch applications. Instead of opening the mail program (which caused a dozen 'enter password' windows to rapidly open) I added credentials to my email through the settings.

It was still a hassle but I was able to use Notes to cut and paste credentials.

 

[zarmanto]

For future reference (and/or for anyone else having similar password issues): If you perform a full backup of your iPhone to a Mac -- ensuring that encrypted backup is enabled -- than you should be able to restore that backup to a new iOS device, complete with all of your passwords already in place. As far as I'm aware, this is the only way to migrate your iOS data from one device to another without having to re-enter passwords.

 

[MalagLagoon]

I just now realized something (a week later). I'm pretty sure I setup some kind of automatic online iCloud backup of my iPhone 7 Plus some years ago. I couldn't tell you where it is or how to access it - or even if my iPhone 17 is now backed up in the same way.

 

[zarmanto]

... I'm pretty sure I setup some kind of automatic online iCloud backup of my iPhone 7 Plus some years ago. ...

Yeah; as far as I know, that doesn't carry over the passwords in the same way as the encrypted local backups that I referenced -- but I don't actually use the iCloud backup myself, so I could be mistaken.