keychain access does not respond to login password on one of two machines

Question

keychain access does not respond to login password on one of two machines

Hello, I have two Macs (a DT (desktop) and MBA (macBook Air)) all on the same account, using iCloud, both DT and MBA use same login password.

I have a Pages document that is locked. I can open Keychain Access on either DT or MBA, and locate the iCloud key for that document from either DT or MBA. From either machine, the address of the key displays the same address string.

That was set up on the DT. The MBA came later.

I can access the document's password on the DT by entering the login password. Same does not work from the MBA. Note that the MBA also has a TouchID that works fine to open that document. Also, the document can be opened on MBA by entering the password.

The only thing wrong is that I cannot see the password from my MBA by entering the login password as requested by the Keychain Access App.

Thanks in Advance,

gA

MacBook Air Apple Silicon

Posted on Dec 16, 2022 4:12 PM

Reply

Answer 1

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Dec 16, 2022 8:32 PM in response to gracelessAtom

Admin password for two different Macs are always to be kept different even Macs are signed in with same Apple ID and password on the same network and iCloud is set up .

Say if are using only a single Mac that is not synced admin password of it will never sync with other Mac .

Admin password is saved in the location of user library > keychain folder and its encrypted it will never sync when iCloud Keychain is turned .

So you can change admin password for any Mac https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchlp1550/mac

Reply

Answer 2

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Dec 18, 2022 5:26 AM in response to gracelessAtom

You have to create a new admin account in users and groups , the name of it should be quite different then user name from another Mac , before creating it make sure iCloud Drive , desktops and documents box , all inbuilt applications box , including keychain box , safari should be checked .

see a thread Switch to new user account - Apple Community

This link is for older version of Mac , from your screen shot click on add account and follow the upcoming instructions Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

Once the account is successfully created its your choice to delete old admin account Delete a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Now from Mac A a new admin account is created having its own new user name and a different password , from Mac B its has also its own admin name and its own password .

Note : never keep same admin name and password between two Macs .

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 17, 2022 12:33 PM in response to tygb

Hello, thank you for the reply.

Note that I am also admin for both machines, and I am assuming my login password and admin password is same on each machine, by definition.

It seems that Keychain on the 2nd Mac (MBA) recognizes and accepts the login password or rejects it if mistyped.

I changed my login password on the MBA and the same results as before the password update: the keychain manager shows me the key, accepts the password, then shows nothing in the field for the password of that document.

gA

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 18, 2022 3:10 AM in response to tygb

Yes - I just verified - User Name is identical on both. When I check from the "Users and Groups" part of Settings, my username appears with "Admin" under it, same on both Macs. (Just thought to add the screen shot.)

(As I recall, I didn't need to do much to set up the second one - 'just accepted defaults)

Reply

Answer 5

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Dec 17, 2022 8:02 PM in response to gracelessAtom

Is your admin name same on two Macs ?

Reply

keychain access does not respond to login password on one of two machines

Similar questions