How to find and change your weak or compromised passwords on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Everyone is guilty of reusing the same password over again. Even if you use a password management app or iCloud Keychain to remember them for you, chances are you have at least one password that you’ve used more than once. But, these days, online security is constantly becoming more of an issue.

With this in mind, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS have a built-in feature for auditing your passwords. You can quickly see which passwords you have used in more than one place, those that are weak or compromised, and take the opportunity to change them.

To protect yourself, your accounts, and your online presence better, here’s how to use password auditing on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Compromised password on iPhone

Password auditing on iPhone and iPad

1) Open the Settings app, tap Passwords, and authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode.

2) You will see a Security Recommendations banner if one or more of your saved passwords are compromised. Tap it.

Security Recommendations in iPhone Passwords Settings

3) Go through the high-priority recommendations first, and tackle them. In most cases, your password may have appeared in a data leak, and thus you must tap Change Password on Website and set a new one.

4) After addressing high-priority issues, tap an entry under the Other Recommendations heading.

5) Next, go through the Security Recommendation, which may say that this password is easily guessable or reused on your other accounts. Tap Change Password on Website and set a new, strong password.

Change your compromised or risky passwords on iPhone

Password auditing on Mac

From System Settings

1) Open System Settings and select Passwords.

2) From here, click Security Recommendations.

Security Recommendations in Mac Password settings

3) Now, use the Change Password on Website button.

4) Additionally, you can also hit the info button ⓘ next to a saved password and follow the Security Recommendation if any.

Change compromised password option in Mac Password settings

From Safari

1) Open Safari, click Safari from the menu bar, and select Settings or Preferences.

2) In the pop-up window, click Passwords and enter your Mac’s password.

3) You’ll see a list of sites with your saved passwords. Those with tiny triangles are your accounts whose passwords are compromised, easily guessable, or reused.

4) Select the account from the left side and use the Change Password on Website button to set a new and unique password.

View compromised passwords in Safari on Mac

Can’t see compromised passwords?

  • On iPhone or iPad: Go to Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations and enable Detect Compromised Passwords.
  • On Mac: Go to System Settings > Passwords > Security Recommendations and enable Detect Leaked Passwords.

Take a break and return to your Passwords settings after a while to audit the compromised ones.

It’s also likely that you do not see any recommendations as you have taken all safety measures, and none of your passwords are weak, compromised, appeared in a data breach, were reused on other sites, or are easily guessable.

Stay safe, my friends! It’s never too early to start making changes to your password management. It may take some time and energy to go change all of the passwords that you’ve reused, but it may save you a lot of time and aggravation down the road.

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