🔐 Face ID Access Without a Stored Password: What It Means
If a banking app (or any app) is accessible using Face ID, but you don’t see a saved password in the Passwords app (Settings > Passwords), then:
✅ It usually means:
- The app uses its internal login system, not relying on the iOS keychain to store or autofill credentials.
- Face ID is being used locally on the device to authorize access after the first login—but not to retrieve a password.
- The password is stored securely within the app, often encrypted and stored using Apple's Secure Enclave or Keychain Services—but not in the shared iCloud Keychain (i.e., what shows up in the Passwords app).
🔄 Why Isn’t the Password Saved in the Passwords App?
Because:
- Many apps don’t use standard iOS login forms or Safari WebViews, which are the main triggers for iCloud Keychain to offer to save passwords.
- Unless the app developer intentionally integrates with Apple’s AutoFill and Keychain services, the login credentials won’t be saved in iCloud Passwords.
- Users can also decline the prompt to save a password, or never get prompted if the login screen doesn’t support AutoFill.
🔁 What Happens Behind the Scenes?
- On first login, the user enters their username/password.
- The app then encrypts and saves an access token or session credential inside the app using Apple’s secure storage.
- After that, Face ID or Touch ID simply unlocks the token to avoid logging in again.
- It’s not retrieving your password—just giving the app the green light to proceed securely.
🧠 Bottom Line:
- Yes, if Face ID grants access but the password isn’t in the Passwords app, the app stores your credentials internally, not in iCloud Keychain.
- Only if you explicitly save the password (or the app uses Apple’s password-saving APIs), it will show up in the Passwords app.