Apple this calendar week release iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2 , bringing an overdue lineament to our Apple gadget : Security key backing for Apple ID . That mean you’re able to use a USB - C , Lightning , or NFC dongle as the second factor of certification instead of the six - figure substantiation codification Apple ordinarily send to another equipment .
As Appleexplains , a physical key strengthen the two - divisor authentication process and help preclude codes from being intercept or requested by an attacker . With a security winder , your account authentication is literally in your hands and no one else has memory access to it . However , if you lose your trusted security Florida key , you could be shut up out of your account for good .
To prevent that from happening , Apple requires two FIDO Certified security measures winder to utilise the new characteristic so you ’ll have a backup . Among the recommend keys areNFC , USB - C , andLightningkeys from YubiKey as well as theFeitan ePass K9 key , though any FIDO certify key with the proper connective should work . Apple notes that NFC name willonlywork on the iPhone and USB - C keys should work with an iPhone using a USB - vitamin C - to - Lightning adapter .
There are also some Apple ID login features that wo n’t work with security measures keys :
to boot , an Apple Watch geminate with a family fellow member ’s iPhone wo n’t be support . Apple says you ’ll need to set up your watch with your own iPhone to habituate a surety key .
If you could get past all that , the appendage is simple . Head over to the configurations app ( organisation configurations on Macs ) , tap your Apple ID name , thenPassword & SecurityandAdd Security Keys , and trace the prompts to show your key . You ’ll need to stay put signed into all active devices to retain using a surety key . To finish the process , you ’ll be signed out of any devices that have n’t been update to iOS 16.3 , iPadOS 16.3 , or macOS 13.2 .