reybo
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Q: Automated login fails on gmail

We have 4 Macs. On 3 of them, when I log into gmail the name and password are entered automatically from entries in Keychain. The 4th machine used to do it also but now fails. It still enters the name but won't enter the password. I have to do that manually on this machine, which runs Snow Leopard 10.6.8. Keychain still has all the proper entries.

 

Anyone know what's wrong and how to repair it?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 3, 2014 9:28 AM

by reybo,Solvedanswer
reybo reybo
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

Found the problem.

Might have known.

Adobe.

Some setting in Flash blocked this one password.

After a session reviewing/changing Flash settings, the problem behind this thread was cured.

As was the unrelated problem that sent me to Flash settings, inability to play Comedy Central videos.

Been doing tech support since 1980, 34 years, and it never gets easier. Maybe it's me?

Many, many thanks, Eric. You made the difference.

 

Rey in Virginia

Here's a link to changing Flash settings: http://tinyurl.com/59gyz

Posted on Aug 10, 2014 3:45 PM

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reybo

Q: Automated login fails on gmail

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 4, 2014 8:45 AM in response to reybo
    Level 9 (74,172 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 4, 2014 8:45 AM in response to reybo

    Try deleting the password from Applications/Utilities/Keychain Access. While there, run Keychain First Aid.

     

    Keychain Reset

  • by reybo,

    reybo reybo Aug 4, 2014 2:26 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2014 2:26 PM in response to Eric Root

    Did Keychain First Aid, both verify and repair. Nothing wrong found and nothing changed, I have tried deleting every keychain gmail entry and letting it create anew. It creates a fully correct keychain entry complete with password, but still will not enter the password automatically.

     

    Something else odd: when I click on the gmail URL, the login box opens and for a split second the password is filled in. Then quickly that line goes blank. So some piece of password shielding software has a hand in this, for this one account. I'm not aware of running any such software.

     

    After this mess began I installed a program called "Autocomplete" that's supposed to ignore web site instructions whether to archive logins and passwords. Made no difference. I asked the programmer if he could help with this. Haven't heard back.

  • by reybo,

    reybo reybo Aug 7, 2014 6:05 PM in response to reybo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 7, 2014 6:05 PM in response to reybo

    The author of 'Autocomplete' never responded. I posted the issue in a google forum. Mike there suggested I try going to the gmail account using Firefox rather than Safari.

     

    Did that and the keychain worked like it should, entering the name and password. So we know for sure this is a Safari issue. I'll post what I've done to fix this.

     

    Steps taken:

    1. I deleted all the Keychain entries for the gmail account. This made no difference. After the information was restored to the Keychain file it still refuses to apply the password.

     

    2. I used Keychain's "Add new password item" function to add the gmail account. It added it, but won't auto-fill the password.

     

    3. I ran Keychain First Aid, both Verify and Repair. It said nothing is wrong.

     

    4. I changed the gmail password, then logged back in to gmail, entering the new password. It worked, and I got into the gmail account. But the new password is also not bring filled in automatically.

     

    I'll mention again that this is the only account and only machine on which this is happening. My other email account and a score of other auto-logins are working perfectly with Safari on this machine. And my other Macs login to the gmail account just fine with the same settings used on this machine.

     

    Is this an unreported bug in Safari 5.1.10?

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 8, 2014 7:52 AM in response to reybo
    Level 9 (74,172 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 8, 2014 7:52 AM in response to reybo

    I'm booted in my Mavericks partition, not my Snow Leopard partition, so the below might be different.

     

    Look in Safari/Preferences/Passwords and see if there is an entry there.

  • by reybo,

    reybo reybo Aug 8, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 8, 2014 12:15 PM in response to Eric Root

    Eric, I cannot find an entry for Safari/Preferences/Passwords in Safari 5.1.10 in Snow Leopard. Searched as thoroughly as I know how, beginning with Spotlight and working down the list of possibilities in Finder. Can Safari be needing such an entry and lack it, yet still work well on every auto-login but one?

  • by reybo,

    reybo reybo Aug 9, 2014 4:23 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 9, 2014 4:23 PM in response to Eric Root

    The only Mac OS where Safari has a Preferences/Passwords is Maverick. 

  • by reybo,Solvedanswer

    reybo reybo Aug 10, 2014 3:45 PM in response to reybo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 10, 2014 3:45 PM in response to reybo

    Found the problem.

    Might have known.

    Adobe.

    Some setting in Flash blocked this one password.

    After a session reviewing/changing Flash settings, the problem behind this thread was cured.

    As was the unrelated problem that sent me to Flash settings, inability to play Comedy Central videos.

    Been doing tech support since 1980, 34 years, and it never gets easier. Maybe it's me?

    Many, many thanks, Eric. You made the difference.

     

    Rey in Virginia

    Here's a link to changing Flash settings: http://tinyurl.com/59gyz