Developing Your Customized IT Roadmap
Macs come with a built-in password manager called Keychain, which usually uses your Mac login password. When you change your Mac password yourself, Keychain updates automatically.
However, if an administrator changes your password or a network/mobile account password expires, Keychain may not update. You’ll see a prompt like:
Continue to Log In
Create New Keychain
Update Keychain Password (recommended)
Choose Update Keychain Password to keep your Keychain in sync.
Continue Log In
Selecting “Continue Log In” allows access to your desktop files, but some network services and third-party applications may display warnings because the Keychain is locked. You can still update the Keychain using these steps:
- Open Keychain Access (Applications > Utilities).
- From the Edit menu, select Change Password for Keychain “login”…
- Enter your previous password and click OK.
- In the new window, enter the original password in Current Password, then type your current account password in New Password and re-enter it in Verify. Click OK.
After this, you may still need to enter the updated password for other services, such as email or server connections.
Sometimes, you might notice that an app you regularly use—perhaps Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Creative Cloud, or Cisco AnyConnect—starts asking for keychain access, even though you’ve already trusted it in the past. Or, your Mac may seem stuck in a loop, repeatedly prompting for your keychain password.
Here’s what you can do if this happens:
- Double-check the app: First, ensure it’s still the same trusted version you expect—sometimes legitimate apps have updates, but if in doubt, check with your IT department or the software vendor.
- Restart your Mac: This simple step can occasionally resolve temporary keychain glitches.
- Manually unlock the keychain: Open Keychain Access (Applications > Utilities). Right-click “login” in the sidebar, then select Unlock Keychain “login” and enter your password.
- Check for duplicate keychains: If you see more than one “login” keychain or an “iCloud” keychain, verify which one your system is actively using. Remove redundant or outdated keychains to avoid confusion.
- Reset or repair the keychain: If the issue persists, consider running Keychain First Aid (if available), or create a new keychain if repairs don’t resolve the problem.
These steps usually clear up repeated prompts and restore smooth access for your apps.
Create New Keychain
Choosing “Create New Keychain” will delete your existing Keychain along with all stored passwords. You will need to reenter each password, and in many cases, users may have to reset forgotten passwords. If a backup solution (like CrashPlan) is available, you can restore the previous Keychain and then follow the “Continue Log In” steps to recover your saved credentials.
Syncing Your Login Password with the New Keychain
Once you’ve reset your default keychain, it’s important to log out of your account and then log back in. This step ensures that your current login password is properly saved and linked to your new keychain. After logging in again, you’ll be prompted to update your credentials—simply enter your existing password when asked. This syncs your keychain with your login, so you won’t run into issues accessing your saved information in the future.
When Should You Manually Reset Your Keychain?
Manually resetting your keychain is generally a last resort and should only be done if you’ve received expert guidance or have exhausted other troubleshooting options. For most users, this step is only necessary if instructed by a qualified support professional—for example, when standard recovery or restore processes aren’t working and persistent access issues remain. If in doubt, consider reaching out to your organization’s IT help desk or support provider, such as your university’s tech support team or a trusted service like Geek Squad, before taking this step.
Update Keychain Password
Choosing “Update Keychain Password” and entering your previous password unlocks the Keychain and updates it to match your current login password, allowing services to continue working seamlessly. If email or server volumes use the same credentials (excluding single sign-on), you’ll need to reenter the new password to regain access.
