What is Keychain access?

Question

What is Keychain access?

Sometimes, actually, often a little box pops up and asks for our keychain password. Well, we don't have one. We have tried resetting it, only for it not to work. I don't even know what it wants. This computer is refurbished, and I don't know if for some reason it kept the old keychain password or something. But, we don't have the password, and so we just click cancel. It pops up twice then goes away for awhile. But, it happens many times.

If anyone could tell me what it means, and how I can change the password or something it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

IMac, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 21, 2008 10:23 AM

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Answer 1

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Jan 21, 2008 11:48 AM in response to sunset_dreamer_98

Keychain is a single storage place for all your passwords. The iMac assumes that when you are logged in as the Administrator on this computer that you who are there and so will automatically fill in all passwords you need for all those accounts we end up getting on the internet. i.e. my keychain has my Facebook, YouTube, email, Apple ID, Amazon password etc. It saves loads of typing and you don't need to remember them all. So long as you secure your OS X account or you computer it's safe to use.

The password is your OS X Admin password.

mrtotes

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Answer 2

Jan 21, 2008 2:07 PM in response to sunset_dreamer_98

I try putting in the password that we have when we restart the computer... but it doesn't work. Does anyone know how to reset the password? I guess maybe we don't know the Master password, and that is why it wouldn't reset the keychain password.

When we got it, we never set a Master password, or keychain password. Only whatever the one is when you turn the computer on.

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Answer 3

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Jan 21, 2008 2:52 PM in response to sunset_dreamer_98

Try changing your password in  menu > System Preferences... > Accounts .

mrtotes

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Answer 4

Jan 22, 2008 6:09 PM in response to mrtotes

I tried that last night, and it didn't work. It wanted our old password. But, I don't know our old password, because my husband and I, as far as we remember, didn't ever set a password. Just one to log on too. And that isn't the same, or at least it is not working.

Hm, anyone have any suggestions?

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Answer 5

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Jan 23, 2008 7:36 AM in response to sunset_dreamer_98

Okay try this. Navigate to Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access. On the Keychain Access menu go to > Preferences... > General tab and click "Reset My Keychain".

HTH

mrtotes

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Answer 6

Jan 23, 2008 11:27 AM in response to mrtotes

After I got passed utilities, there was no spot for Keychain Access. So, I typed in Keychain and a message kept popping up saying there was no default set. And it asked it I wanted to set one... So confusing to me!

Thanks for your help! If you don't want to help anymore, I understand!

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Answer 7

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Feb 4, 2008 5:55 AM in response to sunset_dreamer_98

Sorry for the delay. So Spotlight doesn't find the +Keychain Access+ application?

mrtotes

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