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iphonefreak450

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 14, 2014
797
143
I just setup a passkey for my Google account and for the rest of my accounts and works fine just using my iPhone.

However, in case I have to reset my iPhone to its default factory settings using the Erase all Content and Settings, then which option should I choose from if I DO NOT want to lose access to my Passkeys?

Should I choose KEEP MY INFORMATION or DON'T KEEP MY INFORMATION?
I assume that if I select Don't Keep my Information, then the passkeys will not be saved to locally to my device.
If that is the case, then how will I sign in to my accounts with the passkeys option?
Will the passkeys be re-synced again after turning ON iCloud Keychain again when the iPhone is restored after the factory reset?

So basically, how do the Passkeys get restored after performing the Erase All Content and Settings from my iPhone.


If you turn off iCloud Keychain

  • When you turn off iCloud Keychain, password, passkey, and credit card information is stored locally on your device.
  • When you sign out of iCloud on your device while iCloud Keychain is turned on, you're asked to keep or delete your Keychain information.
    • If you choose to keep the information, your passwords and passkeys are stored locally on your device, but aren't deleted or updated when you make changes on other devices.
    • If you don't keep the information, your passwords and passkeys aren't available on your device. An encrypted copy of your Keychain data is kept on iCloud servers. If you turn iCloud Keychain back on, your passwords and passkeys will sync to your device again.
 
Last edited:

Mike Boreham

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2006
3,904
1,894
UK
I think you are confusing “Erase all Content and settings“ with signing out of iCloud.

You are only asked if you want to keep a local copy when you sign out of iCloud.

Erase all content and settings deletes everything locally, returns phone to factory state. There is no option to keep anything.

Both of them leave everything in iCloud, so when you sign in again either on this phone or a new phone the Keychain data will sync down.
 

iphonefreak450

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 14, 2014
797
143
A copy of my Passkey is stored locally on the iPhone. Everything works fine.

However, what happens if I change my iPhone's screen lock PIN?
Will I need to create a new passkey for my Google account using iCloud Key-chain again?
 

Mike Boreham

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2006
3,904
1,894
UK
A copy of my Passkey is stored locally on the iPhone. Everything works fine.

However, what happens if I change my iPhone's screen lock PIN?
Will I need to create a new passkey for my Google account using iCloud Key-chain again?

No, like changing the user password on your Mac, or your 1Password login, won't change the data stored in them.
 

iphonefreak450

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 14, 2014
797
143
Suppose if I get a new iPhone and setup a new screen lock PIN on it, the Passkey which I created in the past will sync from my iCloud Keychain to my new iPhone. That is all clear to me.

But will I have to create a new Passkey for my accounts due to the changing of the Screen Lock PIN?

Just do not seem to understand this part. Because I thought the Passkey file that was created using iCloud Keychain also would store the iPhone's previous Screen Lock PIN.

I apologise - But this Passkey thing is quite confusing a bit...
 

Mike Boreham

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2006
3,904
1,894
UK
Suppose if I get a new iPhone and setup a new screen lock PIN on it, the Passkey which I created in the past will sync from my iCloud Keychain to my new iPhone. That is all clear to me.

But will I have to create a new Passkey for my accounts due to the changing of the Screen Lock PIN?

Just do not seem to understand this part. Because I thought the Passkey file that was created using iCloud Keychain also would store the iPhone's previous Screen Lock PIN.

I apologise - But this Passkey thing is quite confusing a bit...

Yes I am also unclear about passkeys, but I am pretty sure that they don't include other login info. ie The passkey for your iCloud Keychain unlocks your iCloud Keychain, it doesn't include all the log in info for the items inside iCloud Keychain.
 
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