How to Share Passwords Between Apple Devices

Sharing passwords between devices and between people is one of the most common – and most commonly mishandled – tasks in digital life. Within the Apple ecosystem, several mechanisms exist for transferring credentials from one device to another or from one person to another, each with different security properties, limitations, and use cases. This guide walks through every major method available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, from Apple’s built-in sharing tools to KeePass database sharing, and helps you choose the right approach based on what you are sharing and who you are sharing it with.

The goal is not just to get a password from point A to point B. It is to do so without creating security vulnerabilities along the way – no plaintext messages, no unencrypted emails, no screenshots sitting in your camera roll.

AirDrop: Device-to-Device Sharing

AirDrop is Apple’s peer-to-peer file and data transfer protocol, and it is one of the fastest ways to share a password between two Apple devices that are physically close to each other.

How It Works

Starting with iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, you can share passwords and passkeys directly via AirDrop from the Passwords app (or from Settings > Passwords on older versions). The process is straightforward:

1. Open the Passwords app on the sending device.
2. Select the entry you want to share.
3. Tap the share button and choose AirDrop.
4. Select the receiving device from the AirDrop panel.
5. The recipient accepts the transfer, and the credential is added to their Keychain.

Security Considerations

AirDrop uses a combination of Bluetooth for device discovery and a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection for data transfer. The transfer is encrypted using TLS, and the connection is authenticated using the Apple IDs of both devices. This means the password never travels over the internet and is encrypted in transit between the two devices.

The primary security considerations with AirDrop sharing are:

• Physical proximity required. Both devices must be within Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range, typically about 30 feet. This is actually a security advantage – it prevents remote interception.
• One entry at a time. AirDrop shares individual credentials, not bulk selections. This is fine for sharing a Wi-Fi password with a houseguest but impractical for transferring dozens of entries.
• Apple-to-Apple only. Both the sender and receiver must have Apple devices. You cannot AirDrop a password to someone with an Android phone or a Windows laptop.
• No audit trail. Once the password is shared, there is no record of the transfer and no way to revoke access. The recipient has a full copy of the credential in their own Keychain.

AirDrop is best for quick, one-off sharing between people who are in the same room and both use Apple devices. It is not a solution for ongoing shared access or for sharing with people outside the Apple ecosystem.

iCloud Keychain Shared Groups

Apple introduced shared password groups in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. This feature allows you to create groups of passwords that are automatically synchronized between the Apple IDs you invite.

Setting Up a Shared Group

1. Open the Passwords app.
2. Tap the “+” button or navigate to the groups section.
3. Create a new shared group and give it a name (e.g., “Family,” “Home,” “Work Team”).
4. Invite members by entering their Apple ID email addresses.
5. Select which existing passwords to move into the group, or add new ones.

Once created, every member of the group sees the same set of passwords, and changes sync automatically via iCloud. If you update a password, everyone in the group gets the update.

What Works Well

• Automatic sync. Changes propagate to all members without manual intervention.
• End-to-end encryption. Shared group passwords are encrypted end-to-end, meaning Apple cannot read them even though they transit Apple’s servers.
• Integrated autofill. Shared passwords appear in Safari autofill just like your personal ones, with a visual indicator showing which group they belong to.
• Adding and removing members. The group owner can invite new members or remove existing ones at any time.

Limitations

• Apple-only. Every member must have an Apple ID, an Apple device, and a recent OS version. This is a hard requirement with no workaround.
• No granular permissions. Every member has full read-write access. You cannot share a password as read-only, and you cannot prevent a member from changing or deleting shared credentials.
• No temporary access. You cannot share a password for a limited time. Once someone is in the group, they have access until they are removed.
• Flat structure within groups. Shared groups do not support subfolders or categories. All shared passwords in a group exist in a single flat list.
• Limited metadata. Shared entries carry the same data model limitations as iCloud Keychain itself – no custom fields, no file attachments, no secure notes.

For a detailed analysis of these limitations and what alternatives exist, see our article on why iCloud Keychain isn’t enough.

Family Sharing and Password Sharing

Apple’s Family Sharing feature, which enables shared purchases, iCloud storage, and Find My device tracking, intersects with password sharing in important ways.

Family Sharing Credentials

Family Sharing itself does not directly share passwords. However, when family members share an Apple TV+, Apple Music, or other Apple service subscription, the account credentials are typically managed through the family organizer’s Apple ID. Individual family members sign in with their own Apple IDs and access shared subscriptions through the family group.

Combining Family Sharing with Shared Password Groups

The most practical approach for families is to create a shared password group (as described above) specifically for family credentials: the Wi-Fi password, the Netflix login, the home security system PIN, the family email account, streaming services, and similar shared accounts.

This keeps family passwords separate from personal ones while ensuring everyone has access. The family organizer can manage the group membership, adding children when they get their first device and removing members if family circumstances change.

Limitations for Families

Family Sharing password groups inherit all the limitations of shared groups generally, but families face additional challenges:

• Children’s accounts may have restrictions that affect password group participation depending on the child’s age and the parental controls configured.
• Mixed-platform families (one parent with Android, for example) are not supported. The Android user simply cannot participate in iCloud shared groups.
• Separation of concerns is difficult. You might want your teenager to have the Wi-Fi password and the Netflix login but not the bank password you accidentally moved to the wrong group.

Sharing via KeePass Database

For users who need more control, flexibility, or cross-platform compatibility, sharing passwords through a KeePass database offers a fundamentally different approach to credential sharing.

How Database Sharing Works

Instead of sharing individual passwords through a platform-specific mechanism, you share an entire encrypted database file. The process works like this:

1. Create a shared database. Create a separate KDBX file containing only the passwords you want to share. Do not share your personal vault.
2. Set a shared master password. Choose a strong passphrase that you communicate to all authorized users through a secure channel (in person, encrypted message, or phone call – never plaintext email or SMS).
3. Store the database in a shared location. Place the .kdbx file in a cloud storage folder shared with the relevant people – iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or any cloud service that supports file sharing.
4. Each user opens the file with their preferred KeePass-compatible app – PanicVault on iPhone and Mac, KeePassXC on Windows and Linux, KeePassDX on Android.

Advantages Over Apple’s Built-in Sharing

Cross-platform by design. The shared database works on every platform with a KeePass-compatible app. A family with iPhones, Android phones, Windows laptops, and Chromebooks can all share the same password database.

Rich data model. Shared entries can include custom fields, file attachments, secure notes, TOTP secrets, and any other data the KDBX format supports. You can attach the Wi-Fi router’s manual to the Wi-Fi password entry or include the security questions alongside the account login.

Granular sharing through multiple databases. Instead of one shared group with everyone seeing everything, you can create separate databases for different circles: one for immediate family, one for the extended household, one for a work team. Each database has its own master password, and you control exactly who knows each password.

Full organizational structure. Shared databases support the same hierarchical folder structure as personal ones. You can organize shared passwords into groups and subgroups, making large shared vaults navigable.

Offline access. Once the database is downloaded to a device, it is available offline. No internet connection is needed to access shared passwords – the encrypted file and the master password are all that is required.

Security Considerations for Shared Databases

Sharing a KeePass database is secure, but it requires thoughtful management:

Master password distribution. The master password for the shared database must be communicated securely. Share it in person, over a phone call, or through an end-to-end encrypted messaging app. Never send it via SMS, email, or any unencrypted channel.

Sync conflicts. If two people edit the shared database simultaneously, a sync conflict can occur. Most cloud storage providers handle this by creating a conflict copy. KeePass-compatible apps generally handle merge conflicts well, but it is good practice to coordinate edits or use a sync method that supports atomic updates. For details on managing this, see our guide to iCloud sync for KeePass databases.

Access revocation. When someone should no longer have access, change the master password on the shared database and distribute the new password to the remaining authorized users. Because KeePass databases are encrypted with the master password, the old password will not open the updated database. This is a cleaner revocation model than hoping someone deletes credentials you previously shared with them.

Separate vaults for separate trust levels. Do not put every shared password in one database. Maintain separate vaults for family, work, and other groups. This limits the blast radius if any single master password is compromised.

Sharing Between Your Own Devices

Sharing passwords between your own devices – an iPhone, iPad, and Mac all signed into the same Apple ID – is the simplest case, and Apple handles it well through iCloud Keychain synchronization.

iCloud Keychain Sync

When iCloud Keychain is enabled on all your devices (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Passwords & Keychain), credentials sync automatically. A password saved on your iPhone appears on your Mac within seconds, and vice versa. This sync is encrypted end-to-end and requires no manual intervention.

For most people with multiple Apple devices, iCloud Keychain sync between their own devices works seamlessly. The challenges arise when you want to share with other people, use non-Apple devices, or need features beyond basic credential storage.

KeePass Sync via iCloud Drive

If you use a KeePass-compatible app like PanicVault, your KDBX database can be stored in iCloud Drive and synced automatically across all your Apple devices. This gives you the same seamless multi-device experience as iCloud Keychain while providing the additional features of the KDBX format: custom fields, attachments, folder organization, and cross-platform portability.

The sync operates at the file level – iCloud Drive synchronizes the encrypted .kdbx file, and each device opens its local copy. Changes are written back to iCloud Drive and propagated to other devices. For a detailed walkthrough of setting this up, see our iCloud sync guide.

Using Face ID and Touch ID for Shared Access

Biometric authentication adds a practical layer to password sharing on Apple devices. When you set up Face ID or Touch ID with your password manager, you can unlock your vault – including shared vaults – without typing a master password every time.

On a shared family iPad, for example, multiple Face ID or Touch ID profiles can be enrolled. Each family member can authenticate with their own biometrics to unlock the shared KeePass database, provided the master password has been entered at least once to establish the session.

PanicVault and other KeePass-compatible apps on Apple platforms support biometric unlock, making the experience of accessing a shared vault feel as seamless as using iCloud Keychain while providing far more flexibility in what data you store and who you share it with. For setup details, see our guide on Face ID and Touch ID setup for password management.

Choosing the Right Sharing Method

The best sharing method depends on your specific situation:

Use AirDrop when: You need to share one or two passwords with someone nearby who has an Apple device. Quick, secure, no setup required.

Use iCloud shared groups when: You have a small group of Apple-only users who need ongoing access to a stable set of shared passwords, and you do not need custom fields, attachments, or cross-platform access.

Use a shared KeePass database when: You need cross-platform sharing, rich metadata, file attachments, granular organizational structure, or sharing with people who do not use Apple devices. Also the right choice when you want to maintain multiple separate shared vaults for different groups.

Use iCloud Keychain sync (same Apple ID) when: You just need your own passwords available on all your own Apple devices. This is the simplest case and works well out of the box.

Security Best Practices for Password Sharing

Regardless of which method you choose, these principles apply:

Never share passwords via plaintext channels. Do not send passwords by SMS, email, Slack, or any unencrypted messaging platform. If the message is stored on a server somewhere, the password is stored on a server somewhere.

Share the minimum necessary. If someone needs access to one account, share that one credential. Do not give them access to your entire vault.

Rotate shared passwords when access should end. When a roommate moves out, a contractor finishes a project, or a family member’s circumstances change, change the passwords they had access to.

Use separate databases for separate trust levels. Your spouse might share every household credential with you. Your teenager should probably not have the bank login. Your houseguest only needs the Wi-Fi password. Structure your sharing accordingly.

Audit shared access periodically. Review your shared groups and shared databases every few months. Remove people who no longer need access. Remove credentials that are no longer relevant. Change master passwords on shared databases if you have any doubt about whether a former member might still have it.

The KeePass ecosystem provides the tools to implement all of these practices across any combination of devices and platforms. Whether you are sharing passwords within a family of iPhone users or across a mixed-platform team, the combination of encrypted KDBX databases, flexible organizational structures, and universal compatibility gives you control over exactly what is shared, with whom, and for how long.

For a comprehensive guide to setting up password management across all your Apple devices, see our iPhone, iPad, and Mac password management guide. And for users managing passwords between Apple and Windows devices, our guide on using password managers across Apple and Windows covers the specific workflows and tools that bridge both ecosystems effectively.