What is keychain, and why do I need it? I never activated keychain (why should I) and yet I get continual pop ups requiring a password that I certainly don't have. This is actually VERY annoying. What to do?
OS X v10.9.1
Model identifier iMac 12,1
If you don't have any passwords to protect your Mac, then any casual passer-by can access and steal all your confidential details. It's like leaving your house unlocked when you are away.
For Lion or later: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6022
If it's running Mac OS X 10.7 or newer, restart with the Command and R keys held down, open the Terminal, and use the resetpassword command:
Thanks Klaus for your help.
I do of course understand that passwords are meant to protect.. and I have passwords.
But why do these need to be collected in 'keychain'?
And if I didn't put anything into 'keychain' in the first place, why the incessantly unintelligent question in the pop up that asks for a password that does not exist..... (Whilst writing this response, the pop up has appeared twice..)
This pop up thing started soon after I upgraded to OS X v10.9.1. Makes me wish that I handn't....
I tried the reset procedure.
There, I see that there is reference to a 'keychain default' and resetting as per your advice doesn't seem to reset that default password, which I do not know what is... there's that pop up again ...
How do I resolve this pop up nonsense once and for all? I'm sure that this is not unique to me and my setup.. others must have the same / a similar problem. How did you all solve it?
Simon
Stavanger Norway
But why do these need to be collected in 'keychain'?
Because that is where the operating system expects to find them. Put them anywhere else and they cannot be used.
And that is why you are being asked for the password that the system cannot find but needs in order to proceed.
Within search results I just found several instances of how to do or undo stuff.
The keychain also has iCloud stuff in there, and so on.
http://www.macworld.com/article/2058081/how-to-use-icloud-keychain.html
See all these results (in one place) for some ideas...
Some of which probably should be used or not turned off.
But some could be.
https://www.google.com/#q=Mac+OS+X+Mavericks+turn+off+keychain+warnings
Maybe this will help...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
edited.
Thanks for the links.
I managed to access and turn on 'keychain' on my iPhone complete with a new password.
Next, i tried as indicated to amend the keychain data on the iMac. Accessed keychain thru iCloud, and was asked to provide my AppleID. So far, so good. But then after waiting a minute or so, the pop up that I am desperately trying to eliminate, .... popped up. Grrrrrr! The text of this pop up is 'Keychain "login" cannot be found to store "nnnnn" (a 10 figure number). There are two check boxes: <Cancel> <Reset to Defaults>. If I select <Cancel>, the box with the request to enter the Apple ID disappears. If I select <Reset to defaults> a new pop up appears, "Are you sure you want to reset your keychain? This will delete all your saved passwords, keys and certificates. You cannot undo this operation" select <Cancel> or <Reset>. Guess what? I chose cancel, as I have absolutely no idea whatsoever what is meant by the text... and I don't really want to delete anything at all. By selecting <Cancel> I am returned to the window asking for the Apple ID.... and have to start over again.
Now, I really consider all of this to be completely useless nonsense......
Circular references are not funny after having gone round the loop a couple of times, and getting ... nowhere.
I am still keen to get rid of the circular reference nonsense, and also that darned annoying pop up.
The help so far received for which I thank you, has in no way solved the problem.
Or: am I missing something?
Regards
Simon
Were you able to find anything in the related google search result, linked above, that did anything to change the pattern of circular non-logic whereby you get nowhere outside the same path?
A few did appear promising, but then I don't use Mavericks & my antiques look curiously if I bring up the subject of a 'new OS X' since most are at their great last stand. And I can avoid keychain in mine.
Some users did not upgrade to Mavericks, especially if their software in use from other makers did not necessarily find support in the latest OS X version, or there was no clear advantage; and could revert to a clone or bootable copy of their older system, with that version upgrades intact, from a second hard disk drive location. One that would not automatically be seen by the Mavericks installer and also get an upgrade, too.
If you disable iCloud keychain, does that help make the shared access issue go away, or only compound the effect by getting more singular keychain messages as other devices aren't sharing information, then?
I notice some other topic related articles when I search Support (search box) using 'Mavericks keychain issues' for results. Anything new there?
Oh, on a separate note there is this page 'iCloud keychain availability by country' where SMS may not be available there, so it is possible to change or set up the iCloud keychain in the computer and not online (or so I think it says) + It may not help. see article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6020
Hopefully some wizard from cupertino will reply with the insider information, short of revisiting Mt Lion or another earlier city of OS X.
Sorry to not be of much help...
Good luck & happy computing! 🙂
Still no joy!
I am unable to access iCloud using the Apple menu/systempreferences/icloud simply because the keychain pop up requires a password that I don't have, and thus blocks access to iCloud, and any help that there may be available there.
I find it difficult to believe that I am the only user on the planet with this problem.
I thank you for the ideas that you have come up with, but because I have only just taken my first bite of the Apple as it were, and am thus unsure of some of the terminology (which is generally different to MS), I am sceptical and reserved about deleting and removing and changing.
Simply put, the system should not have this bug at all. In the event that there is a bug, then others would have howled aloud by now. Surely there must be some way of overcoming this problem that I have (or that I caused...)..... without the necessity of assistance from 'some wizard from Cupertino' as you so aptly remark!
It's the frustration of circular references that I loathe. It's seemingly impossible to do anything about it.
Would a general restart (if this is possible...) perhaps solve the problem?
Don't know....
I still do not understand why I need keychain in the first place.
I use and remember those passwords that I have, as I have always done in the past, be it Apple or MS.
I just completely fail to see the usefulness of the keychain, which in my case doesn't work anyway, and which due to the lack of a password (or two or three...) that I in any case don't have, hopelessly blocks access to iCloud where I may just be able to resolve things....
regards
Simon
How long have you owned the computer & system in question?
Are you within reasonable distance to access a retail Apple Store
or authorized reseller with service department, or a Genius bar?
That'd be worth a call to ask about setting up an appointment to
talk to a Genius or product specialist who could help resolve this
issue. Or learn how to turn off the problematic parts of keychain.
Did you purchase the 'extended AppleCare Plan' to add 2 yrs
additional coverage plus full support past first 90 days grace?
This essentially provides a three year coverage if althogether.
http://www.apple.com/support/contact/
There is this page ^ at Apple Support online to ask about
options. However after 90 days, there would be a fee to get
any headway in phone support; and the cost of an extended
AppleCare plan is one way to avoid a fee for each issue, after
the complementary 90 day support expires; leaving only the
rest of the first year of Service, without Support.
It could be easy to miss something, in all this mess.
Sorry to not be of much help... 😟
The iMac for a year and a half (completely problem free until.....) Mavericks from Nov 2013.
Local Apple reseller within 'walking distance' and that sounds like good advice.
I didn't insure myself for this sort of problem and have therefore no 'free service' deal.. Unhappily!
I am in the process of re-installing Mavericks, in the hope that reference to keychain turns up, where I should be able to enter a password to access the keychain database (if that's what it is..) thus resolving the problem. It's worth a try at least, and I don't see that reinstalling is going to make the mess any worse.....
We'll see. And I'll let you know what happens...
Regards
Simon
Restarting Mavericks didn't help at all. Not even one tiny bit.
So, I guess the visit to the local Apple store is called for.
I feel defeated by a lump of wires and 'intelligent' chips....;-)
Regards
Simon
Well, that Genius at an Apple Store when or where available, or a product specialist at an authorized reseller's sales/service desk may be able to help. In some places they (apple store) will diagnose an issue free of charge, or so I've heard, and the product need not be under any warranty. Of course that may vary by region...
We finally did get an Apple Store in a mall in Anchorage, but too late for me & my now old Mac to get help with the headache and loss-of-use not having one here cost me. I've been close to the new store but have no reason to go inside. They don't sell aspirin or give away free coffee...!!
Good luck with the visit to a specialist or other geek genius pro! 🙂
Hello Simon,
I totally agree with you. I am having the same problem. I have tried every possible way to get rid of this annoying solution and nothing I have tried worked. I agree. I have passwords stored and if you want to get rid of just one problem it deletes all of you important informtion. I need help to this problem as well if you get any solutions please share with me. Thanks, Debra
Strange keychain pop up nonsense
