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I've forgotten my Keychain Access password. How can I recover it or change it?
I thought it was the same as my Admin/User account password, but it seems not! I'm the sole user, but it still insists on wanting the Keychain Access password.
iHope
G5 Dual 2GHz PowerPC; MacBook 2GHz Intel, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
Thank you BDAqua.
I rest the keychain password to match my user/admin password. However, it seems there are 3 keychains in Keychains Access - 'login keychain', 'System keychain' and 'X509 keychain'. The resetting only seems to have affected the 'login keychain'. Why is that?
When I'm asked for the keychain password in 'login keychain' it accepts the new password. But when I'm asked for the keychain password in 'System keychain' it rejects it 3 times and asks me to try later. I've changed the permission of the file 'System.keychain' (in Library > Keychains) from 'system' to 'me/owner' (via Command-I) but this has made no difference. Do I have reset the password for the 'System keychain' too? Is this possibe?
The newly created ('renamed') 'login keychain' was empty. The old one, which I'd dragged to the desktop, contained all the passwords I didn't want to lose. I put it back (into user > library > Keychains) and trashed the new empty 'login keychain'. I then ran Keychain First Aid 'Verify' which detected the new keychain was missing. I then ran Keychain First Aid 'Repair' which fixed it. I now had access to the old 'login keychain' with the new password. Does this make sense to you?
Could you please deal with my 3 questions?
Thanks, iHope
Does anyone in apple guru-land know?
Should the passwords in 'System keychain' normally be accessible to the owner/administrator or not?
If not, would it be possible to gain access via the Root Account?
Thanks, iHope
You cannot recover or change it without knowing the current password. That's the whole reasoning for security of the keychain.
By default it is your administrator password, but you can (and possibly did) change it in the keychain. I have mine set differently because while there's nothing really personal on my computer and I like an easy password for it, I do have keychain items I want pretty secure.
Browse some of the links to the right in "More Like This" on ways to delete your current keychain so you can set up a new one. It includes one on archiving your current keychain just in case you remember the password at a later date.
Mac OS X 10.4: Keychain Access asks for keychain "login" after changing login password...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1631
Resetting your keychain in Mac OS X...
>If Keychain First Aid finds an issue that it cannot repair, or if you do not know your keychain password, you may need to reset your keychain.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1544
I've changed the permission of the file 'System.keychain' (in Library > Keychains) from 'system' to 'me/owner' (via Command-I) but this has made no difference.
Don't want to do that.
I then ran Keychain First Aid 'Repair' which fixed it. I now had access to the old 'login keychain' with the new password. Does this make sense to you?
Yes, that part does.
Do I have reset the password for the 'System keychain' too? Is this possible?
I don't think it can be done. Does the old PW work for viewing those?
BDAqua wrote:
Does the old PW work for viewing those?
I don't remember previously ever setting a PW for Keychains Access. If there ever was an 'old' PW for Keychains Access I don't know it. So I'm unable to answer your question.
I'm now thinking that in the past, I could always access the 'login keychain' (cos I was never asked for the PW). This whole business began the other day when I wanted to access the 'System keychain' and was asked for the Keychains Access password. As the sole owner, I was surprised to find I was shut out!
Are you saying, in fact, that this situation is ok and I shouldn't expect to be able to access the 'System keychain'?
Thanks, iHope
If there ever was an 'old' PW for Keychains Access I don't know it.
If there was an old one, it'd be the "old/original" user password.
Here my PW works on the System Keychain, which is in...
/Library/Keychains/System.keychain
And has rights of system=R&W, Admin=RO, everyone=RO, (not sure I didn't change some though).
BDAqua wrote:
If there was an old one, it'd be the "old/original" user password.
The old/original user password doesn't work. I believe this was made clear in my first posting:
"I thought it was the same as my Admin/User account password, but it seems not!"
As reported, I've reset the default Keychains Access password (to my Admin password). I can access the 'login keychain' but not the 'System keychain'. Isn't this weird? (My permissions for the latter is now the same as yours). What do you reckon could be the problem here?
Thanks, iHope
Hmmm, what all keychains are in System?
Some wifi passwords for different locations are in my 'System keychain' (in Keychain Access). If I click on an item (for details of the password) it askes me for my Keychain password. I type in my user/admin PW but this is rejected 3 times.
BDAqua, does this happen to you with items in your 'System keychain'?
iHope
Same items in mine, I can view mine, but I'm not sure if that's the way it's suppose to be, or if I messed with it somehow.
Where do we go from here? Should the passwords in 'System keychain' be accessible or not? Does anyone know?
iHope
Where do we go from here? Should the passwords in 'System keychain' normally be accessible or not? Does anyone know?
Is access possible via the Root Account?
iHope
I've forgotten my Keychain Access password. How can I change it?
