iCloud passwords and keychain sync won't turn on on iPad

After updating to iPad OS26 earlier this week, the “iCloud passwords and keychain” sync setting switched itself OFF. It was ON before the update. I’ve tried clicking it back on, but within a second or so, it switches off again. It tries to turn on, you can see the gear spin next to the toggle button, but it only lasts 1-3 seconds before admitting defeat and returning to the off position. All other iCloud features, apps syncing, etc. are turned on and seem to be working fine.

I’ve tried force quitting the iPad Settings app (as well as the Passwords app, just in case). I’ve also rebooted the iPad (both the regular power off/power on method as well as the force reboot with the up volume button, down volume button and power switch until the Apple logo appears).

I’ve read that signing out of iCloud and then signing back in again can possibly fix this, but I’d rather try other methods before I mess with completely turning iCloud off. Are there any other suggestions on how to resolve this?

If I do have to turn iCloud off by signing out, I’m assuming that it will prompt me to keep data on the local device (for all iCloud related apps/settings) and then ask to “merge” them when I turn iCloud back on again? This part always makes me nervous. I don’t want to lose anything, but I don’t want duplicates of items like photos, bookmarks, etc.

I do have iCloud+ in case that matters.

I am also having a separate iCloud Safari related issue on my iPhone since the update (lost open Safari tabs and all bookmarks), but I posted about that issue separately ( Open tabs and bookmarks gone on iPhone sh… - Apple Community ). However, I will not attempt to resolve both issues simultaneously since they are both iCloud related. I don’t want to turn iCloud off on multiple machines at once if I don’t have to. I’ll fix one of the two problems and then tackle the other one.

Sorry for the duplicate post above. I tried to add a link to the first post but it would not save/update the post. When I let it open the draft, it posted it separately instead of updating/editing the first one.