iCloud preferences want to make changes to your account

newmacuser2013 I do not use this feature so you may want to hold out for a, more qualified, answer. But it looks like you have set up a Home and/or Family network that shares your Apple ID. It looks like it is requesting you to log into this network so your Apple ID can make changes. If you don't remember the ID and Password you created - try your current Apple ID and password. Hope that helps.

I just encountered this same issue in El Capitan—I entered in my user account password (the password you enter to log into your machine) and was shown an error that it was incorrect. I verified that wasn't the case by logging out of my computer and logging back in with that same password and, no, I didn't enter it incorrectly at the iCloud preferences prompt. What ended up working for me was going to my user account and creating a new user account password:

System Preferences->Users & Groups->your_user->Change Password

Once I did that, the iCloud preferences prompt took my new password and I was able to use my iCloud account on my Mac. I suspect it was a keychain corruption issue, as others have speculated.

We have 2-factor authentication enabled using CAC cards to authenticate. Typing my CAC card PIN in this dialog fails with the 'shaking at me' dialog. With the username grayed out there is no way to get rid of this error. Ideas?

i had this too from an older profile - i disconnected my device from iCloud account (from another device- i.e i removed my MacBook using my iPhone) and then re-connected it with the up to date account name and password - this seemed to work for me.

i guess it's like turning it off and then on again :-)

rubbish .... they offer a different ID and ask for a password that is not responsive to the original and always apple password ..... WHO finds this helpful ....

how is it possible to create such a rat-race for this iCloud thing .... really angering after an hour and NO SOLUTION ....

if iCloud preferences wants to make changes, then it should identify the ACCOUNT .... which it does not, in my case as with the originator of this thread, it was changed and I do not recognize, use or have a password associated with that grayed out id .... and the original one does not work ..... so it's a mess

NOT HELPFUL at all ......

n addition, I get this message if both of my computers are on.

Yup, this worked for me! Thanks

Hi Ckuan,

It worked for me....thank you ☺☺

I do not have a password on my Mac at all.