Password not working from lock screen

Question

Level 1

16 points

Password not working from lock screen

Sometimes, when I return to the computer when it has gone into the lock screen, my password is not accepted either from my hardwired 3rd party keyboard (keychron) or the keyboard on the laptop. A hard reboot fixes the problem, however, prior to updating to Sequoia a few weeks ago, I never had this problem and now I frequently do. There have been no hardware changes since the upgrade.

What is going on here? This is very irritating.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Feb 13, 2025 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

mdl978 Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 23, 2025 5:54 AM in response to gnuphie

Thanks, that was helpful.

I'm going to report on what might have fixed the problem for me. I made this correction several days ago and have not seen a repeat of this problem.

I reset the screen saver, and carefully set the screen saver time and the monitor power down times so there were no conflicts. Previously, I think I had the yellow "!" warning that my screen saver time was greater than the monitor power down.

So far so good. I'll provide an update if this didn't prove out to fix the problem.

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Answer 2

gnuphie

Level 1

15 points

Feb 21, 2025 3:42 PM in response to mdl978

The problem for me occurred at initial login. It did not accept my correct password. On repeated attempts it quickly locked me out for increasing time intervals. I finally disconnected external devices until I isolated it to the drive array. I am still having to leave drive array disconnected until I am logged in and then I can reconnect it. It was not intermittent; it always failed until I booted with drive array disconnected.

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Answer 3

gnuphie

Level 1

15 points

Feb 21, 2025 1:28 PM in response to mdl978

I had a similar problem with 15.3.1 where it would not log me in from the lock screen. In my case it turned out to be something with an external drive array (Lacie 2Big) that 15.3.1 did not like that previous versions accepted. My current lame solution is to boot and get logged in with the drive array disconnected, than attach after logged in. That is not a real solution, but is a workaround for me until (or if) Apple makes a fix for this issue. I have a 16" macbook pro M4, LaCie 2Big 16 TB.

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

107,041 points

Feb 13, 2025 5:11 AM in response to mdl978

Refer to posting by @den.thed in this links

screen saver not started after screen loc… - Apple Community

Macbook Sequoia requires repeated sign in - Apple Community

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Answer 5

mdl978 Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 13, 2025 5:25 AM in response to Owl-53

Thank-you for your reply. Regrettably, I was unable find a solution in a review of responses from den.thed in the links you provided other than disabling the lock screen. The issues referred to in those links seemed to be similar to, but not the same one I am encountering. Did I miss something?

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

107,041 points

Feb 13, 2025 5:54 AM in response to mdl978

In my setup, on there different computers running Sequoia 15.3.1

The Lock Screen is deactivated by the Computer Password

2 of the 3 machines are Headless computers using an Apple Bluetooth Keyboard

The Third Machine M3 Apple Laptop using the Builtin in Keyboard

Have Tested before replying using my trusty $15..00 USB-A windows-like keyboard on any of the three machine in Lock Screen

Yup, it all works

If it does not work on this machine

It seems to be localized to this computer

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Answer 7

mdl978 Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 21, 2025 2:30 PM in response to gnuphie

Thanks, I was wondering if it might be the peripherals as this particular computer is configured somewhat differently than the three others that don't have any problems. I know that this problem is likely not related to the keyboard since I've swapped out the keychron with an Apple keyboard and I still have it. Connected to this computer is the keychron keyboard, LG Ultrafine Display, a Focusrite audio interface and a passport drive. My problem is intermittent - the lock screen will recognize my password shortly after boot, but after some time will not, whether I enter the password on the computer or the external keyboard.

Could you please clarify: when the drive was connected at boot, you were not able to log on at the initial log on screen OR you were able to logon at the initial screen but when the computer threw up the lock screen you were not able to log on? Is it intermittent?

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