Your Mac keeps asking for the login keychain password
Quick answer
When the keychain prompt appears, type your old Mac password, the one you used before it changed. That updates the keychain to your new password and the prompts stop.
Why it happens
Your login keychain stores saved passwords and is locked with your Mac login password. Changing your password in System Settings normally updates the keychain too. If the password was reset instead, for example at the login window, from Recovery or by an administrator, the keychain still expects the old one and keeps asking.
How to fix it
Read the prompt. If it asks for the password of your login keychain, it wants your Mac password from before the change, not the new one.
Type your old Mac password and click OK. Your Mac updates the keychain to match your current password, and the prompts should stop.
If you can't remember the old password, there's a last resort. First open the Passwords app to see which accounts you'd have to sign in to again, and make sure you can get into the important ones another way. Then open Keychain Access with Spotlight (press Command-Space and type its name), open its Settings… and click Reset Default Keychains. This deletes the passwords saved in that keychain.
Keychain Access›Settings…›Reset Default Keychains
Log out or restart, then sign in with your current password. Your Mac starts a fresh login keychain that uses it.
Still not fixed?
Read the wording of each prompt. If it says an app wants to access a key in your keychain, or wants to use confidential information stored in your login keychain, it wants your keychain password. That's your Mac login password, or your old one if the keychain hasn't caught up yet. Type it and click Always Allow for an app you trust. Only a prompt that says Enter the password for the account wants that service's own password, such as your email password.
Next time, change your Mac password in Touch ID & Password, by clicking Change… next to Password, so the keychain changes with it. On a Mac without Touch ID, the pane is called Login Password.
Touch ID & Password›Password›Change…
If the prompts carry on after a reset and a restart, contact Apple Support.
Questions people ask
What password does my Mac keychain want?
Usually your Mac login password. If you recently changed or reset it, try the old one.
What happens if I reset my default keychain?
The passwords saved in that keychain are deleted and a new one is made with your current password. You'll need to sign in again to apps and websites that used it.
Why does my Mac keep asking for my keychain password after a password reset?
The keychain is still locked with your old password. Type the old one when asked, and your Mac brings the keychain up to date.
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Press ⌃ ⌥ Space and type “mac keeps asking for keychain password”. PinSet opens Keychain Access and rings Reset Default Keychains. One of 2,400+ checked Mac fixes. Works offline.
7 fixes free · Works offline · macOS 26 and 27