Passwords Icon is Missing on iPhone After iOS 18 Update
Reading Time: 3 minutes After updating my iPhone to iOS 18, I noticed the Passwords app icon cannot be found on my home screen. At first, I wasn’t sure if this was a bug or a new feature introduced in the update. If you’re experiencing the same issue, you’re not alone. Here, I’ll walk you through a few simple steps that helped me get the Passwords app icon back, so you can manage your passwords without any hassle.
Starting in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and visionOS 2, the Passwords app has become an essential tool for managing not only passwords but also passkeys and verification codes. It lets you generate, create, and save strong passwords, share credentials with friends and family, customize passwords, and more. Passwords even alerts you to common weaknesses, like passwords that can be easily guessed, reused across accounts, or found in data leaks—making it a crucial feature for secure digital management.
Fix 1: Locate the New Passwords App on Your Home Screen
Before iOS 18, iPhone had a different password management system, which could be accessed by going to Settings > Passwords. With iOS 18, Apple introduced a standalone Passwords app, which can now be found on the Home screen after updating. So, if you’re trying to access passwords through the Settings menu, it won’t be there anymore.
To locate the Passwords app:
- Go to the Home Screen and look for the new Passwords app icon. It should appear alongside your other apps.
- If you don’t see it immediately, try swiping down on the Home screen to access Spotlight Search and type “Passwords.”
The Passwords app icon features a white background with three key symbols arranged in a row. The keys are typically light-colored, with a sleek, minimalist design that reflects the app’s focus on security and password management. The icon is simple yet effective, fitting well with the clean, modern aesthetic of Apple’s design style.
Fix 2: Check if the Passwords App Was Removed from Your Home Screen or Deleted
It’s possible that you may have accidentally deleted or removed the Passwords app from your Home screen. Here’s how to get it back:
- Open the App Library by swiping to the last page of your Home screen.
- Look for the Passwords app in the App Library. If it’s there, you can tap and hold the icon, then drag it back to your Home screen.
- If you don’t see it in the App Library, open the App Store.
- Search for “Passwords” and, if available, re-download it.
Fix 3: Check for Conflicts with Third-Party Password Management Apps
If you’re using (or previously used) a third-party password management app, you might want to check for any compatibility issues. Some third-party password apps, along with certain secret-photo apps, can unfortunately stop working after a major iOS or iPadOS update. In some cases, app developers might even withdraw support for these apps without notice, which can lead to unexpected issues with accessing your stored data.
For those with passwords saved in a third-party app, you may still be able to retrieve your data on an older Apple device running an earlier iOS or iPadOS version, where the app may still be functional. From there, you might have an opportunity to migrate or export your password data or secure files before it becomes completely inaccessible.
Apple’s password management system, on the other hand, stores passwords in Keychain, either locally or in iCloud Keychain if enabled. Apple has consolidated all password-related settings into the new Passwords app in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, unifying what was previously a mix of tools in Settings, Keychain Access, and Safari. With these updates, Apple has also enhanced password security by moving toward a more secure system known as the “data protection keychain,” which aims to improve both password safety and accessibility.
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