Login and security on a Mac, fixed in plain English.
27 fixes for macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27 Golden Gate.
Get Touch ID on your Mac recognising your finger againThe fingerprint may not be enrolled, the 'unlock' option is off, or the finger/sensor is wet or dirty.Do you need antivirus on a Mac?macOS has built-in malware protection (XProtect and Gatekeeper) that updates on its own.Make your Mac ask for a password after sleep or the screen saver'Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off' is set to Never or a long delay.Use your Apple Watch to unlock your MacThe 'use Apple Watch to unlock' option is off, or the Watch and Mac aren't signed in to the same Apple Account with the Watch unlocked.Make your Mac log in automatically without a password'Automatically log in as' is off.Give your Mac longer before it locks or the screen turns offThe inactivity timers for the screen saver and display-off are short, so the password screen appears quickly.Your Mac rejects a login password you know is rightCaps Lock is on, or the login screen is using a different keyboard layout, so the letters come out wrong.Your Mac keeps asking for the login keychain passwordThe login keychain still uses an old password after the account password changed.Turn on FileVault to encrypt your Mac's diskFileVault encrypts the startup disk so data is unreadable without your password.Find your saved passwords on your MacSaved passwords and passkeys live in the Passwords app (and Keychain Access for older items).Lock your Mac in a second when you step awayYou want to lock without sleeping or shutting down.Add or remove a fingerprint for Touch ID on your MacFingerprints are enrolled one by one in Touch ID & Password.Your MacBook asks to allow a USB or Thunderbolt accessoryPrivacy & Security restricts new USB/Thunderbolt accessories when the Mac is locked or by default.Forgot your Mac password? Reset it the official wayThe login password was forgotten or typed wrong, so the Mac can't be unlocked.Stop typing your password all day: unlock your Mac with your fingerprintTouch ID can unlock the Mac, but it has to be set up and switched on.Why your Mac wants your password instead of Touch ID after a restartBy design, macOS asks for your password instead of Touch ID after a restart, every 48 hours, and after five wrong fingerprint tries.Change the password you use to log in to your MacYou know the old password and want a new one.Get your Mac to fill in saved passwords and passkeys againAutoFill for Passwords and Passkeys is off in Passwords settings.Why 'Automatically log in as' is greyed out on your MacAutomatic login is unavailable while FileVault is on, or when the Apple Account password is used to log in with some setups.Switch to another user on your Mac without logging outFast User Switching lets two accounts stay logged in at once.Turn Lockdown Mode on or off on your MacLockdown Mode is an extreme-protection setting that limits web features and attachments.Show name and password boxes instead of a list of users at login'Login window shows' controls whether users appear as pictures or you type name and password.Use VoiceOver, Zoom or Sticky Keys at the Mac login screenAccessibility features for the login window are set separately from your account.Make your Mac ask for a password when it starts upAutomatic login skips the login window when the Mac starts.What the keychain on your Mac is, and which password it wantsThe keychain stores your saved passwords and keys; the login keychain normally uses your Mac login password.What to do after a scammer had remote control of your MacScammers often switch on screen sharing or install remote-control apps that keep running.Show the Sleep, Restart and Shut Down buttons on your Mac's login screenThe login window buttons are controlled by a Lock Screen switch.