“Sherlocked” is a term often bandied about for third-party apps killed by Apple when it introduces new OS features that overlap with or completely overshadow the apps that preceded them. While there were plenty of instances of Sherlocking at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference 2024 (WWDC), the long-rumored introduction of a new password manager app for iOS 18 was one of the most obvious examples. To make matters worse for rival services, though, Apple is making the Passwords app available across iPhones, Macs, iPads, and Windows, making it a true cross-platform play.
But is Passwords a true competitor for the best password managers or a value-add for existing customers? And can it convince me to switch from the password managers I’ve been using recently? I’ve spent the last 24 hours testing out Apple Passwords to find out.