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| The iCloud password arrives on Windows via the Chrome extension |
Apple has released a new version of iCloud for Windows 10 that simplifies managing user passwords between Apple and Microsoft.
According to the updated release notes, it appears that Apple has added the iCloud Password plugin for Chrome to the list of new features so that iCloud Keychain passwords can be used on Windows devices.
The update provides support for adding iCloud passwords to Google Chrome. After installing iCloud for Windows version 12 from the Microsoft Store, a new Passwords section appears in apps that contain iCloud Keychain.
When you try to use this feature, the user's iCloud will prompt you to download the Chrome extension. However, the extension has been disabled. If you click "Install", the webpage will be destroyed.
If you search for the extension in the Chrome Web Store, nothing will show up, and Apple may have released an iCloud update for Windows prematurely.
When you open the app, there is a new password sync option. Select this check box to display the login prompt and two-factor authentication requirements.
According to Apple's support page, you will need to enable two-factor authentication for your account to access the feature. This can be a good choice because in theory you are syncing all the words from the past.
This is likely a bug and will be fixed in the near future. Windows users with Windows devices seem to be able to access their iCloud keychain password through Google Chrome browser if they are using it.
If you can't wait, you can always switch to a dedicated password manager. However, if you use iCloud Keychain, moving all passwords is inconvenient.
The access of iCloud Keychain to the Chrome browser is the first time that the password manager feature has appeared outside of the Mac, so that users can take full advantage of it.
It is not known if Apple will make this add-on available for Mac computers in the future. It seems to be limited to Windows to make it easier for the many people who use it with their iPhones or iPads.