Can't access strong generated password in Keychain

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Level 1

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Can't access strong generated password in Keychain

I couldn't log on to a website because I forgot the password. When prompted to enter a new password, I agreed to use the system recommended strong password. I could not read it, so, after accessing the website, I went to Keychain to look up the password, so that I could keep a written record of it. I couldn't find any record of it in Keychain that referenced the website, but there was an item listed at the time I made the change: ids:personal-session-token-cache-v3. I tried to see the password, typed in my iMac password as requested, and was told that I wasn't authorized to see it. How do I get access to my password?

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Feb 6, 2019 6:52 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

156,506 points

Feb 8, 2019 11:18 AM in response to dstottle

The password is obscured intentionally, because it is conceivable that someone could be looking over your shoulder as it's filled in whereas subsequent logins will just display •••• characters.

Presumably, if you use Safari to examine saved passwords you will have already taken certain basic precautions like that. If you think Apple may be somewhat overly obsessed with security, you're probably right. They are not likely to become any less sensitive about that subject.

Apple has had very little to say about Safari's Strong Password generator. Here's a video and a slideshow.

In case you were wondering if there is a way to modify the format of its "secure password" I'm not aware of any, and yes I have already expressed my desire to do that. The reason is that certain websites (the nature of which would surprise you) don't accept a password of the form it offers because it's considered insufficiently secure. However that same allegedly ultra-secure website will happily accept "Password1". Go figure.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

156,506 points

Feb 7, 2019 9:57 AM in response to dstottle

iCloud Keychain will synchronize passwords among all your Apple devices: Set up iCloud Keychain - Apple Support.

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Answer 3

dstottle Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2019 10:31 AM in response to John Galt

I understand that. What I don't understand is why I can't see what the "strong" password is that Mac OS X generates. You can't see it before you agree to use it either. Where in Apple Support do I find information about system generated strong passwords?

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Answer 4

dstottle Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 9, 2019 12:17 PM in response to John Galt

Thank you John! I learned a lot from the videos aided by the slideshow. My problem was partly that I don't yet have the latest iOS (it says it will try to update tonight) and on OS X, the strong password I accepted never updated. I don't know why. But that is why it wasn't in Keychain. I really appreciate the help. Again, Thank you very much.

Richard Stottlemyer

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Answer 5

John Galt

Level 10

156,506 points

Feb 7, 2019 9:58 AM in response to dstottle

.

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Answer 6

dstottle Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 7, 2019 9:19 AM in response to John Galt

I looked at the passwords in Safari preferences. They are the same six character passwords as what is in Keychain. They don't work anymore, but when I type in the email address and then click on the icon at the end of the field, a long password is put into the password field, and it works. I checked again in Safari preferences to see if anything had changed. It had not. I then checked in Keychain. There was no new mention of the website, but the same "personal-session-token-cache-v3" was listed as modified today at 11:53 AM, when I logged on. It appears that I am not allowed to see my own password. A very safe password I suppose, but what about portability?

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Answer 7

John Galt

Level 10

156,506 points

Feb 6, 2019 8:34 PM in response to dstottle

... there was an item listed at the time I made the change: ids:personal-session-token-cache-v3

That's not it. Use Safari's Preferences... menu > Passwords.

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Can't access strong generated password in Keychain

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