This is a novelty that changes everything: you will now be able to use Firefox with one of the key functionalities of the Apple ecosystem.
Apple Password Manager: Now it’s more complete
With the arrival of iOS 18 and macOS Sonoma, Apple introduced the standalone application Passwordstransforming iCloud Keychain into a more uniform and competitive password manager compared to other key management apps. The application, which already had native integration in Safari, added extensions for Chrome and Edge in the past, but until now, Firefox was left out of the equation.
The new extension, called iCloud Passwordspromises to make it easier to access credentials saved in the keychain from Firefox. It allows you to autofill logins and automatically save new passwords to iCloud, synchronizing them with all the user’s devices. In addition, the extension incorporates the possibility of generating verification codes for two-step authentication, by scanning a QR code from the browser.
This launch reinforces Apple’s commitment to making iCloud Keychain a complete password manager, capable of competing with tools such as 1Password or LastPass. Although the Cupertino company has been slow to take this step, its focus remains focused on security and ease of use.
However, there is one important limitation: the extension only supports macOS Sonoma or laterleaving Windows users out. For them, the only option remains the iCloud application for Windows, which allows access to passwords saved in the keychain from the browser.
Curiously, the development of this extension was not Apple’s original idea, since according to rumors it was an independent developer who initially created an add-on that fulfilled this function, and which Apple later acquired and adapted.
What does this mean for users?
With this new tool, Apple continues to advance its strategy of extending the capabilities of its ecosystem beyond Safari. The launch of this extension for Firefox not only reinforces the usefulness of iCloud Keychain, but also consolidates the idea of a more open and flexible ecosystem, adapted to the needs of modern users.
Although the fact that at the moment don’t be Windows compatible may be an impediment for some users, it is further proof that Apple prioritizes the optimization of its tools within its ecosystem, before launching them to a global market.
We’ll see if with this extension Apple manages to stand up even more to third-party password managers and if it manages to consolidate itself in a saturated app market, all from a native application that works very well, although visually it should be more attractive and offer us more possibilities.
