What to Know
- If you see security recommendations, that means your passwords may be compromised.
- Compromised passwords are passwords that have appeared in data leaks.
- You can turn off these notifications in Settings, tap Passwords, Security Recommendations, and then toggle off Detect Compromised Passwords.
Have you ever checked your saved passwords and seen a message about compromised passwords on your iPhone? This is Apple’s way of helping you stay secure. When you see this message, it’s your iPhone letting you know that some of your passwords are not as secure as you might think. However, if you do not need this warning, there’s an easy way to turn it off.
Jump To:
- What Does Compromised Passwords Mean?
- How to Turn Off Compromised Passwords Notification
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Compromised Passwords Mean?
If you’ve checked your security recommendations on your iPhone and see a message that says, “This password appeared in a data leak,” that means that the password was leaked. Sometimes, companies will be hit by cyber attacks in which hackers gain access to a database of usernames and passwords. If you have an account with a company where this has happened, your password may be in that database. So, if you use the same password across multiple accounts, the hackers will be able to log in everywhere that you use that password.
This is why it is crucial to make sure you use unique, strong passwords for every account. Your iPhone can suggest strong passwords for you so that you don’t have to worry about coming up with them on your own. Not only that, but iCloud Keychain keeps track of your passwords so you don’t have to. For more iPhone security advice, be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.
How to Turn Off Notifications for Compromised Passwords on iPhone
While there isn’t a way to turn off the security recommendation warning completely, you can prevent your iPhone from notifying you if a saved password appears in a data leak. This can be beneficial if you are sharing accounts and don't have control over the passwords. However, we recommend that you take these notifications seriously and, when possible, change your passwords based on Apple's recommendations.
- Open the Settings app, and tap Passwords.
![iphone settings with passwords option circled in red]()
- Tap Security Recommendations.
![iphone password settings with security recommendations button circled in red]()
- Tap the toggle next to Detect Compromised Passwords to disable or enable this feature.
![iphone security recommendations with detect compromised passwords toggle circled in red]()
When this feature is disabled, you will not be notified if any of your passwords appear in data leaks.
FAQ
- Can you check if passwords have been compromised? You can follow the steps above to get to the Security Recommendations menu. There, you can see all the accounts that your iPhone has detected as being compromised. You can also visit the website Have I Been Pwned? This site allows you to enter your email address and will tell you which of your accounts have appeared in a data leak.
- How did all my passwords get compromised? If you use an easy-to-guess password or the same password for every account, it’s more likely that your passwords will get leaked in a security breach at some point. When that happens, all of your passwords become compromised since the same one can be used for multiple accounts. That’s why it’s important to use a different strong password for every account.
