Stuck in "reset password" loop

On a 2014 desktop Mac running Sierra:


I created a new login password. Because the keychain kept demanding a password I don't have anymore, I followed these directions per the Mac website:


Create a new login keychain

After resetting your password and logging back in to your account, you might see an alert that the system was unable to unlock your login keychain. This is expected, because the passwords for your user account and login keychain no longer match. Just click the Create New Keychain button.

If you didn't see an alert about your login keychain, or you see other messages asking for your old password, reset your keychain manually:

  • Open Keychain Access, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
  • Choose Preferences from the Keychain Access menu, then click the Reset My Default Keychain button in the preferences window. After you enter your new password, Keychain Access creates an empty login keychain with no password. Click OK to confirm.
    If you don't see a Reset My Default keychain button, close the preferences window and select the “login” keychain from the left side of the Keychain Access window. Press the Delete key, then click Delete References.
  • Choose Log Out from the Apple menu to return to the login screen.
  • Log in to your account using your new password. Your account password and login keychain password now match again.

  • I got as far as step 2. The "empty login keychain with no password" turned out to need the old password: the popup had three empty fields: one to enter the old pw, the next for the new pw, the third to confirm the new one.


    Because it was supposed to by an "empty login with no password", I tried filling out just the two lower fields, with the new password. Got a message that my input was invalid.


    I tried to repeat the whole process in hopes the result would be different. Now it won't let me past the second step. When I click "Reset My Default Keychain", the popup says I don't have permissions for that.


    I am truly stuck. What next? Thanks.

    MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), null

    Posted on Jun 8, 2017 2:36 PM

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    Stuck in "reset password" loop

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