iCal keeps prompting me for password

I'm seeing these same errors and not using Google calendar. I am connecting to a Zimbra calendar server using CalDAV from my Mac Book Pro which is running Mountain Lion.

I may just have figured out a fairly complicated way to fix this issue, or at least glean some insight into the problem (as in the course of this writing the problem came back for me). I'll try to explain it in simple terms here, but please ask questions if you don't follow me (and know that I'm writing this after just minutes of not seeing the dreaded password prompt.

Thinking of this possible fix started with first seeing the syncing work with the trial versions of BusyCal and BusySync… So it is not directly an issue with CalDAV on the Google end, and might well be Calendar specific (maybe not OS X Calendar specific if iOS Calendar shares the bug).

Then I paid close attention to the first part of the log entries most of us have posted: “8/12/12 4:58:21.263 PM CalendarAgent[431]:”, specifically “CalendarAgent”. The process that actually does the syncing with Google Calendar is not Calendar directly, but Apple’s system-level background process CalendarAgent. CalendarAgent is located (as found using Activity Monitor in /Applications/Utilities) in /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CalendarAgent.framework/Executables.

Then, where does the system (supposedly, given these issue…) store the account passwords? In the keychain, which we can view and edit using Keychain Access (in /Applications/Utilities).

I just did two things that (for more than one functional sync at least) eradicated the password prompts. It may be worth trying if you’ve had these issues, it may work more permanently for you, or at least give you ideas for future attempts at fixing the problem and further insight into the issue. I made two changes to every Google-related keychain item in my login keychain:

1. If the stored password was my old password I updated it to my current/new password.

2. Added CalendarAgent as a process that can access the password under the Access Control tab of the keychain item editor

That’s all I did, and at least for a bit it appeared that I had fixed the issue. I suggest you try this and see if it fixes the problem for you. If not then at least this write-up furthers our documenting of this issue even if it doesn’t resolve it.

Also, anyone and not just registered developers can log in at https://bugreport.apple.com and submit bug reports. I think as many of you who are willing ought to at this point regarding this problem.

I just submitted a bug report to Apple. Bug ID# 12092315

Thanks for taking the time to write this up, it sounds like the kind of thing it could be. Let's hope it's a fix included in the next software update.

I tried changing the passwords under Keychain, as well as adding Calendar Agent as a permitted process, but still the same problem

Having the same problem. Spent an hour at the Genius Bar, this really appears to be an issue on Googles server side. This is getting tiresome.

Although intermittent, authorising Calendar Agent through KeyChain access (I had to go through System/Library Framework etc) seems to have made it happen less frequently....

In KeyChain select permission rights, then navigate to calendar agent and select it: System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/CalendarAgent Framework/Calendar Agent

This is a Mountain Lion issue. My Macbook Pro, which still has Snow Leopard, doesn't exhibit this problem.

In MT. Lion I don't see permission rights in KeyChain...This is what I see...

Ah. You need to search for the CalDav keychains - search for DAV or or Caldav. You should then have two google related items in the finder pane - and it should indicate that they are for calendar use. Good instructions for this stage are here:

http://www.atpeaz.com/index.php/2011/fixing-lions-icals-caldav-password-problem/

Except you dont delete the keychain - but rather select it and and then when you have found the keychain double click, select Access Control, select + to add a new application, and then navigate to the Calendare Agent.

Good luck...it's still working for me - though it does still ask for a password intermittently, but not as bad as it was before.

I think I may have found quite a simple solution.

Here is what I did, and for now it seems to be working.

1. Open iCal and wait for the password prompt.
2. Generate an appliaction specific password on Google (assuming you are using two token authentication)
3. Put the password into iCal and press ok. Leave iCal open.
4. Then go to System Preferences, Mail, Contacts and Calendars
5. Select the same account in the left hand bar, then select Details
6. Paste the same password there as you just did in iCal.

That seems to now work perfectly for Mail and Calendar.

If it stops working, I will update the thread again.

Warren

P.S. I assume it works for normal passwords in the same way.

OK, I'm afraid that didn't work. The problem has returned! 😟