About Automatic Verification

Find out how Automatic Verification makes signing in to apps and websites more convenient, private and accessible on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

How Automatic Verification works

Some apps and websites use a CAPTCHA — a randomly generated sequence of letters, numbers or images that asks you to identify distorted characters or select certain images — to verify that you're a human and not a robot (or bot) when you sign in. With iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, macOS Ventura or later, if you've already signed in to your device with your Apple ID, Automatic Verification will privately authenticate you to participating apps and websites so you don't have to complete a CAPTCHA. All you have to do is sign in to the app or site.

Automatic Verification and privacy

Automatic Verification helps protect your privacy when you sign in to an app or website. Instead of being asked to complete a CAPTCHA:

  • An Apple server will validate your device and Apple ID.

  • This verification is sent to a third-party token issuance server, which has been verified by Apple. The token issuance server will generate a private access token that can verify you to the app or website.

Apple never learns which app or website you're signing in to and can't access your browsing history. The token issuance server only knows that you've passed the verification and never learns information about your device or Apple ID. The only information given to the app or website is the private access token.

Automatic Verification settings

Automatic Verification is turned on by default. When you turn off Automatic Verification on one device, it will also be turned off automatically on other devices you've signed in to with your Apple ID.

How to turn off Automatic Verification on your iPhone or iPad

  1. Go to Settings.

  2. Tap your name.

  3. Tap Sign-In & Security.

  4. Turn off Automatic Verification.

How to turn off Automatic Verification on your Mac

  1. Choose the Apple menu  > System Settings.

  2. Click your name.

  3. Click Sign-In & Security.

  4. Turn off Automatic Verification.

If you're still getting CAPTCHAs

  • Make sure you've signed in to your device with your Apple ID. Open Settings (or System Settings on Mac) and check that you can see your name.

  • Make sure you've updated your device to the latest operating system.

  • If you get a CAPTCHA when signing in to an app or website, that app or website may not support Automatic Verification.

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