---
title: kSecUseDataProtectionKeychain
framework: security
role: symbol
role_heading: Global Variable
path: security/ksecusedataprotectionkeychain
---

# kSecUseDataProtectionKeychain

A key whose value indicates whether to treat macOS keychain items like iOS keychain items.

## Declaration

```swift
let kSecUseDataProtectionKeychain: CFString
```

## Mentioned in

Sharing access to keychain items among a collection of apps

## Discussion

Discussion Set the value for this key to true in the query dictionary when accessing a macOS keychain item that behaves like an iOS keychain item. For example, use the data protection key when adding, searching for, or deleting an item to which the kSecAttrAccessible or kSecAttrAccessGroup attributes apply. The data protection key affects operations only in macOS. Other platforms automatically behave as if the key is set to true, and ignore the key in the query dictionary. You can safely use the key on all platforms. tip: It’s highly recommended that you set the value of this key to true for all keychain operations. This key helps to improve the portability of your code across platforms. Use it unless you specifically need access to items previously stored in a legacy keychain in macOS. Items that you store or have stored in macOS with the kSecAttrSynchronizable attribute set to true also behave like iOS keychain items. However, a true value for that attribute additionally causes iCloud to synchronize the item across all the user’s devices. Use kSecUseDataProtectionKeychain to get the iOS behavior without synchronization.