Why can't I see the password of one of my email accounts on my iPhone?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Why can't I see the password of one of my email accounts on my iPhone?

I got a new MacBook and when I did, not all of my password info came over in the migration, including the password for one of my less active email accounts. I can't remember the password, and no, it's on in my keychain. I can't recover the password through gmail, because our administrator no longer exists from that website's email accounts.

BUT I still get email on my phone, so my iPhone (OS 16.4) knows the password to this Google account.... so why won't my iPhone let me SEE the password? I have tried everything and the only response on this forum to a similar question says 'Well, you just can't get your password if it isn't saved to iCloud'.... how is this right? There is such a thing as too much automation. I want to be able to see, with my own eyes, the password I am using... because well, it's the migration from one Apple product to another that LOST my password info.... so why is there not a redundant solution to recover it from another device?

Posted on May 30, 2023 6:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

May 30, 2023 6:44 PM in response to Andthere

If iCloud Keychain is not enabled on the Mac, enable and authorize it, and see if that then loads the passwords. macOS can show most (all?) passwords.

Restore the backup of the old Mac somewhere, and have a look at the contents of that backup, too.

As for your “why?” question… Only Apple can really answer the “why” questions, if it’s not already documented somewhere. Ypu could ask them, of course.

Here, log some feedback with Apple, requesting viewing of mail-related passwords be added:

… Product Feedback - Apple

Since you do have access to the mail account—albeit not as you want, but you do have access—also consider resolving the underlying lack of administrative access to the mail server. This while you await some hypothetical future update to iOS allowing the SMTP/ESMTP and POP/IMAP passwords to be viewed. Something requiring administrative access will almost inevitably occur, after all.

Reply

Why can't I see the password of one of my email accounts on my iPhone?

Similar questions