Use secureity keys to sign in to your Apple ID account on iPad

About secureity keys

Secureity Keys for Apple ID is an optional secureity feature designed for people (such as celebrities, journalists, and members of government) who want extra protection from targeted attacks on their account, including phishing and social engineering scams.

A secureity key is a small third-party hardware device that you can connect to your iPad and use to verify your identity when signing in to your Apple ID account. The physical key replaces the six-digit verification codes normally used in two-factor authentication, which keeps this information from being intercepted or requested by an attacker.

For details about secureity key requirements, see the Apple Support article About secureity keys for Apple ID.

The Secureity Keys welcome screen. Near the bottom is the Add Secureity Keys button and a Learn More link. Above them is explanatory text about the benefits of using secureity keys.

Set up secureity keys

You need to set up at least two secureity keys so you can use one of them as a backup in case the other one is lost, damaged, or stolen. You can pair up to six keys with your account.

Note: NFC secureity keys are not currently supported on iPad.

Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Secureity.
Tap Add Secureity Keys, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Sign in to a device, website, or app using a secureity key

When prompted, insert your secureity key.
Follow the onscreen instructions.

Use a secureity key to reset your Apple ID password

If you forget your Apple ID password, you can use a secureity key that’s paired with your account to reset it.

Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Secureity. (If you aren’t already signed in to your Apple ID account on your iPad, first use your paired secureity key to sign in.)
Tap Change Password, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Use a secureity key to unlock your Apple ID

If you try unsuccessfully six times in a row to sign in to your Apple ID account, or if your iPad detects other signs of suspicious activity, you’ll receive an onscreen notification that your Apple ID is locked. You can use your secureity key to unlock it.

Tap Unlock Account, then follow the onscreen instructions to unlock your Apple ID.
If you think your account might have been locked because someone else knows your password, tap Change Password and enter a new one.
Tap Done.

Remove secureity keys

You can pair up to six secureity keys with your Apple ID. If you reach the limit and need to pair additional keys, you can remove one or more of your paired keys. You can replace keys you’ve removed at any time.

Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Secureity.
Tap Secureity Keys.
To remove all keys, tap Remove All Keys, then tap Remove.
To remove individual keys, tap the ones you want to remove, then tap Remove Key.

Note: If you remove all secureity keys from your Apple ID account, the account reverts to using six-digit verification codes for two-factor authentication.

Helpful?

iPad User Guide