Is Keychain Access being replaced by Passwords in System Settings?

Keith Gardner1 wrote:

Would be nice if these details were disclosed!

Apple usually doesn't provide those kinds of details. They just do what you have observed. First, port a new app from iOS. Then, gently nudge users into the new app.

It is safe to assume that Passwords has already replaced Keychain Access. These days, the only time I ever see anyone mention Keychain Access is when they are freaking out about some security certificate that they think has a funny name or something.

Keychain Access is devolving into the Mac Registry. If you've noticed, most of the "passwords" in it these days are just random bits of secure storage from Apple and 3rd party apps. You can't even open them because you don't have the password.

Passwords is much better. It isn't well known, but Passwords even includes a two-factor verification feature that you can use with various websites and apps instead of one or more stand-alone verification apps on your phone.

Keith Gardner1 wrote:

I don't mind change. But when change happens, and there's no explanation given, or you're not sure whether the change is a complete replacement of what was, or an add-on, or a partial change, or just another way of doing it, that does not help at all.

So this morning, for the first time after updating to Sonoma 14.5, I went to my Utilities folder, to launch Keychain Access. Before it opened, it popped up a window with the suggestion to "Manage Your Passwords in System Settings." But after a brief explanation of what I could do in Passwords, it gave me the option to open Passwords, or to continue to Keychain Access.

No further explanation was given. I can't find anything about it on the Apple website, or in any Google search. Does anyone know whether this is going to ultimately replace Keychain Access? Does it do everything that that did? Is it just bundling it into existing Settings packaging rather than having it as a standalone utility?

Would be nice if these details were disclosed!

You can use either option. Apple does not disclose future plans / releases / modifications

Keychain Access is system wide Keychain Access User Guide for Mac

Safari—

Find saved passwords and passkeys on your Mac

I tend to use the Keychain Access.app most frequently...

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