How to to unlock your (Mac) login keychain

Use these instructions if your Mac keeps asking for the login keychain password.

Instructions

First, use SpotLight Search to find and start the “keychain access” app on your Mac.

Sync your keychain login and user password

  1. Choose Edit > Change Password for Keychain "login."
  2. If your previous keychain is locked, enter the previous user password, then click OK.
  3. If you entered the correct password, a new window appears. Enter the previous user password again in the Current Password field.
  4. Enter the current user password in the New Password field.
  5. Reenter the current user password in the Verify field, then click OK.

If you don’t remember your previous user password

If you don’t remember your previous user password, you need to reset your default keychain. Resetting the default keychain will delete all the passwords saved in the keychain, but should allow you to sync up.

  1. Choose Keychain Access > Preferences, then click General.
  2. Click Reset My Default Keychain.
  3. In the Finder, choose Apple menu > Log Out… When you log in again, save your current password in a keychain.


Additional information is available from Apple.

If your Mac keeps asking for the login keychain password.