You can export/import passkeys now, but only on iOS
Apple has introduced the ability to export and import passkeys on iOS, allowing users to transfer their passkeys between devices. However, this feature is currently limited to Apple's ecosystem and is not yet available on Android or other platforms. The move aims to improve passkey portability while maintaining security.
Background
- Passkeys are a modern authentication method that replaces passwords using cryptographic key pairs stored on your device (e.g., in iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager). They are cross-platform in theory but have been notoriously hard to move between devices or password managers.
- Apple recently added the ability to export and import passkeys in iOS 18.2 — a long-requested feature. However, this capability currently exists only within Apple’s ecosystem, not on Android or Windows.
- The article explains how to use the new export/import flow and discusses the implications: passkeys become more practical for users who switch phones or use multiple devices, but the lack of cross-platform tooling still locks users into a single vendor’s ecosystem.
- Key background: the FIDO Alliance (which standardizes passkeys) has been working on credential exchange protocols, but widespread interoperability between Apple, Google, and Microsoft is still incomplete.