๐ AutoFill - Automatically Fill Passwords on iOS
AutoFill is the native iOS feature for automatically filling in passwords in Safari and other apps. iKeePass seamlessly integrates with this system.
๐ฏ What is AutoFill?
AutoFill is Apple’s built-in feature for filling in login credentials:
- System Integration - Works in Safari and all compatible apps
- Face ID / Touch ID - Biometric authentication before filling
- Secure - Passwords are inserted directly from iKeePass
- Fast - One tap is all you need to log in
AutoFill vs. AutoType
| Feature | AutoFill (iOS) | AutoType (macOS) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | System integration | Keyboard simulation |
| Authentication | Face ID / Touch ID | Master password |
| Supported apps | Safari + compatible apps | All apps |
| Sequences | No | Yes |
| 2FA integration | Separate | Possible in sequence |
๐ฑ Supported Platforms
| Platform | AutoFill | Minimum Version |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | โ Full | iOS 17.0 |
| iPad | โ Full | iPadOS 17.0 |
| macOS | โ Safari | macOS 14.0 |
โ๏ธ Setting Up AutoFill
Step 1: Enable iKeePass as Password Provider
- Open Settings on your iPhone/iPad
- Tap Passwords
- Tap Password Options
- Enable AutoFill Passwords
- Select iKeePass from the list of providers
Step 2: Unlock iKeePass Database
For AutoFill to work, your database must be unlocked:
- Open iKeePass
- Unlock your database with the master password
- Optional: Enable Face ID / Touch ID for faster unlocking
Step 3: Using AutoFill
- Open Safari or another app with a login form
- Tap on the username or password field
- Tap the keychain suggestion above the keyboard
- Select iKeePass from the list
- Authenticate with Face ID / Touch ID
- Select the matching entry
๐ Authentication
Face ID / Touch ID
AutoFill uses your device’s biometric authentication:
| Method | Device | Security |
|---|---|---|
| Face ID | iPhone X and later, iPad Pro | โ Very high |
| Touch ID | iPhone SE, older iPads | โ High |
| Device Passcode | All devices (fallback) | โ High |
Authentication Flow
๐ Compatible Apps
Safari
Safari is fully compatible with AutoFill:
- โ Website logins
- โ Form filling
- โ Password suggestions
Third-Party Apps
Apps that use the iOS Password AutoFill framework:
| App Category | Examples | AutoFill |
|---|---|---|
| Banking | Chase, Bank of America, Capital One | โ |
| Social Media | Instagram, Facebook, X | โ |
| Shopping | Amazon, eBay, Target | โ |
| Streaming | Netflix, Disney+, Spotify | โ |
| Productivity | Microsoft 365, Google Workspace | โ |
Apps Without AutoFill Support
Some older apps don’t support AutoFill. In this case:
- Open iKeePass
- Search for the entry
- Copy username/password manually
- Paste it in the app
๐ฏ URL Matching
AutoFill automatically assigns entries based on URL:
How Does Matching Work?
| Entry URL | Website | Match |
|---|---|---|
https://github.com |
github.com/login | โ |
https://www.amazon.com |
amazon.com | โ |
https://mail.google.com |
accounts.google.com | โ (Domain) |
https://example.com |
other-site.com | โ |
Tips for Better Matching
- Use complete URLs -
https://www.example.cominstead ofexample.com - Mind subdomains -
mail.google.comis different fromdrive.google.com - Multiple URLs - Add alternative URLs to the entry
๐ Security
Why is AutoFill Secure?
| Aspect | Protection |
|---|---|
| Database | AES-256 encrypted |
| Authentication | Face ID / Touch ID required |
| Transfer | Directly from iKeePass, no caching |
| Timeout | Database locks after inactivity |
Best Practices
- Enable Face ID - Faster and more secure than password entry
- Set up Auto-Lock - Lock database after X minutes
- Strong Master Password - At least 12 characters
- Regular Updates - Keep iKeePass and iOS up to date
Security Comparison
| Method | Security | Convenience | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoFill + Face ID | โ Very high | โ Very high | โ Recommended |
| AutoFill + Touch ID | โ High | โ High | โ Recommended |
| Manual Copy | โ ๏ธ Medium | โ ๏ธ Medium | โ ๏ธ Fallback |
| Memorize Password | โ Low | โ High | โ Not recommended |
๐ง Troubleshooting
AutoFill Doesn’t Work
Checklist:
- iKeePass is enabled as password provider
- Database is unlocked
- Entry has matching URL
- iOS version is 17.0 or newer
iKeePass Doesn’t Appear in List
- Check settings: Settings โ Passwords โ Password Options
- Enable iKeePass: Check the box next to iKeePass
- Restart device: Sometimes a restart helps
Wrong Entry is Suggested
- Check URL: Does the URL in the entry match the website?
- Search manually: Tap “Other Passwords…” and search for the correct entry
- Update URL: Update the URL in the entry
Face ID Doesn’t Work
- Check permission: Settings โ iKeePass โ Face ID enabled?
- Set up Face ID: Settings โ Face ID & Passcode
- Mask/Glasses: Face ID may fail with changed appearance
๐ AutoFill Extension Architecture
Technical Implementation
Components
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| AutoFill Extension | Standalone app extension |
| Credential Provider | Provides login credentials |
| App Group | Shared storage with main app |
| Keychain | Secure key storage |
Info.plist Configuration
<key>NSExtension</key>
<dict>
<key>NSExtensionPointIdentifier</key>
<string>com.apple.authentication-services-credential-provider-ui</string>
<key>NSExtensionPrincipalClass</key>
<string>$(PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME).CredentialProviderViewController</string>
</dict>
๐ TOTP / 2FA with AutoFill
Limitations
AutoFill only fills username and password. TOTP codes must be entered separately:
- AutoFill fills in login data
- Website asks for 2FA code
- Open iKeePass
- Copy the TOTP code
- Paste it on the website
Tip: Quick TOTP Access
- Use the OTP Widget on your home screen
- Or the OTP View in iKeePass for quick access