Fingerprint works but not password

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Level 1

4 points

Fingerprint works but not password

I have a password-protected file on my Mac (Ventura 13.4). It is in DropBox. My fingerprint will open it but my password will not. The password I am trying is my Mac login password. I am sure it is correct because I log out and in again to test it. My caps lock is not on. I open the KeychainAccess app, find the file in question, click 'info', and select the 'show password' check box. It asks me for a password. I enter my Mac login password. It then asks me for a password again. I enter my Mac login password again. It then shows nothing in the password field - it is just blank. I need the password because I want to access the (Dropbox stored) file from my phone and my phone asks for the password. It seems the fingerprint mechanism knows the password, but I cannot get it to tell me what it is.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Sep 19, 2023 7:43 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

74,190 points

Sep 20, 2023 2:18 AM in response to ChrisG7777

Usually, when you password-protect a file, you are asked to select a password for it; it is not necessarily your login password.

Did you try just pressing enter? According to Keychain Access, the password in question appears to be empty...

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Answer 2

ChrisG7777 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 9, 2024 6:11 PM in response to ChrisG7777

I've now been given a work-around. Simply open the file with my fingerprint, copy the contents to a new file, password-protect it AND REMEMBER THE PASSWORD THIS TIME. Obvious, now that it has been suggested.

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Answer 3

razmee209

Level 10

199,506 points

Sep 19, 2023 7:52 PM in response to ChrisG7777

ChrisG7777 wrote:

I have a password-protected file on my Mac (Ventura 13.4). It is in DropBox. My fingerprint will open it but my password will not. The password I am trying is my Mac login password. I am sure it is correct because I log out and in again to test it. My caps lock is not on. I open the KeychainAccess app, find the file in question, click 'info', and select the 'show password' check box. It asks me for a password. I enter my Mac login password. It then asks me for a password again. I enter my Mac login password again. It then shows nothing in the password field - it is just blank. I need the password because I want to access the (Dropbox stored) file from my phone and my phone asks for the password. It seems the fingerprint mechanism knows the password, but I cannot get it to tell me what it is.

Talk to dropbox support.

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Answer 4

ChrisG7777 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 19, 2023 11:35 PM in response to razmee209

When i set the password on the file it was a Pages file. In Pages on the Mac, I went to File/Set Password. So I think it would be a Mac password, nothing to do with the fact it is stored on Dropbox. In fact, I believe that Dropbox does not now allow passwords or encryption on free accounts any more, and mine is free.

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Answer 5

ChrisG7777 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 8, 2024 8:33 PM in response to ChrisG7777

I am still struggling with this problem. My file is now in iCloud. Nothing to do with DropBox. My fingerprint on my Mac opens it. But every password I can think of does not open it. I need the password because i would like to open it from my iPhone, which has no knowledge of my Mac fingerprint. The password must exist somewhere on the Mac, associated with my fingerprint. How can I get at it? It does nt appear in the key Keychain Access list

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Answer 6

ChrisG7777 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 20, 2023 10:53 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Just pressing enter also gives me "That is not the correct password"

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Fingerprint works but not password

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