How to resolve macOS Keychain Access 'Local Items' password prompts

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to resolve macOS Keychain Access 'Local Items' password prompts. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

macOS uses a system called Keychain Access to securely store your passwords, certificates, and private keys. When you change your Mac login password without updating your Keychain password at the same time, macOS can no longer unlock the "Local Items" keychain automatically. This results in repeated password prompts asking for the "Local Items" keychain password, especially after rebooting or opening certain apps.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Restart your Mac and log in with your current password.
2. When the "Local Items" keychain prompt appears, select Cancel or Create New Keychain.
3. Open Keychain Access and reset the default keychain.
4. Restart your Mac to confirm the prompts have stopped.

Detailed Instructions

Reset the Local Items Keychain

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock, then select Go > Utilities from the menu bar.
2. Double-click Keychain Access.
3. In the menu bar, click Keychain Access > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions).
4. Click the Reset My Default Keychain button.
5. Enter your current Mac login password when prompted, then click OK.
6. Close Keychain Access and restart your Mac.

If You Remember the Previous Keychain Password

1. Open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities.
2. In the left sidebar, select the login keychain.
3. Right-click (or Control-click) login and choose Change Password for Keychain "login".
4. Enter your previous keychain password, then enter your current Mac login password as the new password.
5. Click OK, then restart your Mac.

Troubleshooting

Prompts Continue After Reset

• Ensure you are logging into your Mac with the same password used to reset the keychain.
• Check for macOS updates by clicking the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.
• Some third-party apps store their own separate keychain entries. You may need to re-enter passwords for those apps after the reset.

Keychain Access Will Not Open

• Restart your Mac in Safe Mode, then try opening Keychain Access again.
• If the issue persists, your keychain database may be corrupted and require further assistance.

If you continue to see repeated keychain prompts after following these steps, Open a Ticket and our Brisbane support team will assist you further.

Still Having Issues?