Activating Security keys on my iPhone

I have an iPhone 14 and a gen9 iPad without NFC. I have 2 Security Keys with NFC only. If I activate "security keys on the Iphone what then with the existing Ipad - can it still use iCloud/AppleId? Can a new Ipad that does not have NFC be connected to my AppleID without getting 2 new Security keys with USB C connections - e.g. by using the iPhone?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPad, iPadOS 17

Posted on Mar 18, 2024 3:03 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 18, 2024 3:29 AM

You can activate and add the two NFC keys to your AppleID using your iPhone.


Adding keys does NOT affect the normal operation of your already trusted devices.


It DOES prevent you from receiving - or self generating - Verification Codes; needed to access your AppleID services from an untrusted device OR to setup new untrusted devices.


(Note: https://icloud.com/find still works; allowing you to find devices w/o physical security keys)


To add a new “non-NFC” device with only your current 2x NFC keys have some options:


  • Use a dongle to adapt your existing NFC key to the new device (dongles are sometimes problematic w/ some devices and some keys)
  • Temporarily remove the keys from your account. The you CAN THEN use Verification Codes to setup your new device. The keys can then be re-added to your AppleID.

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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 18, 2024 3:29 AM in response to jesper105

You can activate and add the two NFC keys to your AppleID using your iPhone.


Adding keys does NOT affect the normal operation of your already trusted devices.


It DOES prevent you from receiving - or self generating - Verification Codes; needed to access your AppleID services from an untrusted device OR to setup new untrusted devices.


(Note: https://icloud.com/find still works; allowing you to find devices w/o physical security keys)


To add a new “non-NFC” device with only your current 2x NFC keys have some options:


  • Use a dongle to adapt your existing NFC key to the new device (dongles are sometimes problematic w/ some devices and some keys)
  • Temporarily remove the keys from your account. The you CAN THEN use Verification Codes to setup your new device. The keys can then be re-added to your AppleID.

Mar 18, 2024 3:55 AM in response to jesper105

An important aspect to fully understand re: use of Security Keys is that they COMPLETELY REPLACE use of Apple’s 2FA Verification Codes.


With security keys enabled, you loose all ability to:


  • Receive codes to your Trusted Devices
  • Send codes to your Trusted Numbers
  • Generate codes on your Trusted Devices


This is a critical aspect to be accounted-for in any disaster recovery planning.

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Activating Security keys on my iPhone

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