Alex Ruben
How To Remove Saved Passwords on iPhone
Managing passwords on an iPhone isn’t always straightforward, especially if you’ve got a bunch saved but want to tidy things up. Maybe some old creds for sites you no longer use or just want a cleaner list. Either way, deleting passwords is pretty simple once you know where to look. It’s not like Android where you can directly go into a folder—Apple makes it a bit more layered. But hey, the process is manageable, and after doing it a few times, it’s almost second nature. Plus, keeping your saved passwords lean helps improve security and speeds up autofill.
In this guide, you’ll find step-by-step instructions, along with some extra tips that might save you time. Expect to see how to access, find, and delete those saved login details, plus what to do if things get tricky—like if a password isn’t showing up or if you want to ensure it’s gone for good. It’s all about keeping your device lean and your login info private.
How to Delete Passwords on Your iPhone
Accessing the Passwords Save Area
First off, you gotta find where your passwords live. It’s tucked inside the Settings, but the steps aren’t always obvious, especially if you’re not used to iOS updates. On most setups, here’s how it goes:
- Unlock the iPhone using your passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID. Because of course, Apple has to make it a bit complicated.
- Next, tap on Settings.
- Scroll down and pick Passwords. This is sometimes under Passwords & Accounts or directly labeled as “Passwords” now, depending on your iOS version. On iOS 16+, it’s right under *Passwords* and might show as a password manager icon.
Note: If you can’t see it, double-check your iOS version—sometimes, these menus move after updates.
Authenticating & Viewing Saved Passwords
Once in Passwords, you’ll need to verify your identity. This could be via Touch ID, Face ID, or your device passcode, depending on your setup. Delay might happen if you’ve been inactive for a bit—just re-authenticate, and you’re in. Expect to see a list of all saved passwords, which on some machines can be a huge dump or just a handful. The search bar helps if you’re after something specific, like a banking login or social account.
Sometimes a password won’t be there, or you think you saved one but it’s missing. Maybe it’s stored elsewhere—like in a third-party app or browser extensions. It happens.
Finding the Password to Delete
With everything visible, it’s time to hunt down that odd or outdated password. Scroll through, or use that handy search feature to quickly locate entries. Maybe it’s a long-forgotten site or a login for that one app you haven’t opened in ages. Once found, tap to open it. Sometimes, just tapping the entry shows the login info, other times, you need to hit an Edit button, usually at the top right corner.
Removing the Password
Now, here’s where the magic happens. To delete:
- Tap the entry you want gone.
- Hit the Edit button if needed. A lot of times on newer iOS, you can swipe left directly on the password entry in the list and tap Delete—much faster.
- Confirm deletion when prompted. The password immediately disappears from your saved list.
If for some reason it doesn’t delete right away, try closing and reopening the Passwords app or restarting the device. Sometimes, the sync isn’t instant and needs a reboot to kick in.
Ensuring Complete Removal
Sometimes, deleted passwords still stick around in a “Recently deleted” or “Trash” folder. To really make sure it’s gone:
- Open Passwords again.
- Look for a Deleted or Recently Deleted folder—some iOS versions display this.
- Swipe left or tap to delete it permanently. This is a good security practice if you’re cleaning up sensitive info.
Dealing With Multiple Passwords
Want to tidy up a bunch? Just repeat those steps—find it, swipe/delete. It’s tedious but then your list isn’t cluttered with old info. Remember: on some setups, the interface may vary a little, so if the swipe-to-delete isn’t working, try tapping the Edit button and then deleting each manually.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
Heads up: Keep your device updated to the latest iOS if you want the most seamless experience. Sometimes, old iOS versions don’t sync or show passwords correctly. Also, if a password isn’t showing up, it might be stored in another app like Chrome or third-party managers (like LastPass or 1Password). Don’t forget to revoke access from those if you want complete removal.
And yeah, regularly check in on your passwords. Old accounts lingering around are just begging to be hacked.
Wrap-up
Getting rid of saved passwords on an iPhone isn’t rocket science—just a few taps, a little patience, and maybe a restart if things act up. It’s smart to control what’s stored, especially if credentials are outdated or compromised. Usually, it’s quick once you get the hang of it, but some versions of iOS still throw in surprises.
Summary
- Find Settings > Passwords
- Authenticate via Touch ID, Face ID, or passcode
- Search or scroll for the password to delete
- Swipe left or tap Edit, then hit Delete
- Check Deleted folder to fully purge
Fingers crossed this helps
Hopefully, this shortcutting made your life a bit easier. Deleting passwords isn’t always smooth, but with a little patience, it’s doable. Just remember, keep that list lean and your device secure—that’s way better than having old creds floating around.