Apple continues to evolve its software offerings, introducing features that enhance user experience. Among these is a particularly valuable tool for autofilling two-factor authentication codes, which is set to improve further in the upcoming iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe this fall.
The autofill feature will now be extended to third-party messaging, email, and browser applications. Notable Apple features such as Wi-Fi network sharing, iPhone Mirroring on the Mac, and the autofill for one-time verification codes have significantly elevated user convenience.
With the growing emphasis on two-factor authentication for online logins, many users, including myself, have come to rely heavily on Apple’s autofill capability over the past year. Currently, the autofill tool can retrieve SMS codes from Apple’s Messages app and also supports 2FA codes sent to Apple Mail. These codes conveniently appear above the keyboard on iOS devices and are automatically removed after use. On Macs, the feature works through Text Message Forwarding but is limited to Safari.
However, with the introduction of iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, significant enhancements are expected. In the initial beta versions, users will find three key improvements:
– On iPhones, SMS codes can now be detected in a variety of third-party messaging applications, not just Apple’s Messages.
– Similarly, users can autofill 2FA codes from third-party email clients such as Gmail.
– On Macs, the 2FA autofill feature will extend to third-party browsers, moving beyond its previous exclusivity to Safari.
These enhancements are poised to greatly improve an already valuable feature. The ability to autofill codes from Gmail and various third-party messaging apps is likely to have a notable impact, while the new functionality in Chrome and Firefox on macOS Tahoe will surely be appreciated by many users.
Are you looking forward to the expansion of Apple’s autofill feature to third-party applications in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe? Share your thoughts in the comments.