Where MacBook Air stores your passwords
Your MacBook Air keeps passwords in an app called Keychain, which is built into every Mac. Keychain stores passwords for websites, email accounts, Wi-Fi networks, and apps you use. When you type a password into Safari or another program and choose to save it, macOS puts it in Keychain and locks it behind your Mac login password.
You can see what passwords Keychain has saved, change them, or delete them. The process is straightforward and takes about a minute. You will need to know your Mac login password, because macOS requires it before showing you any stored passwords.
Keychain is separate from your iCloud account password and your Apple ID password, though it can sync passwords across your devices if you turn on iCloud Keychain. For now, we are talking about the passwords stored on this specific Mac.
Key Takeaways
- Open Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities, then search for the website or account name to find a saved password.
- Double-click any password entry, check the "Show password" box, and enter your Mac login password to see the actual password.
- You can change a saved password directly in Keychain without visiting the website, though the website will not know about the change.
- If you forget a password and Keychain has it saved, you can view it here instead of using a password reset link.
How to open Keychain Access
Keychain Access is the app where you view and manage all your saved passwords. To open it, click the Finder icon in your dock, then click Applications in the sidebar. Open the Utilities folder. You will see an app called Keychain Access — double-click it to open.
A faster way: press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "keychain access", and press Enter. The app will open in a few seconds.
When Keychain Access opens, you will see a list of items on the left side. Make sure you click "Passwords" in that list so you see only password entries, not certificates or other items.
Finding a specific password
Once Keychain Access is open and you have clicked Passwords, use the search box in the top right corner to find what you are looking for. Type the website name (like "amazon" or "gmail") or the account name. Keychain will filter the list to show only matching entries.
For example, if you search for "amazon", you will see any Amazon passwords you have saved. If you search for your email address, you will see passwords for accounts that use that email. The search happens as you type, so you do not need to press Enter.
If you do not see the password you are looking for, it may not be saved on this Mac. Passwords saved on your iPhone or iPad will not appear here unless you have turned on iCloud Keychain, which syncs passwords across your Apple devices.
Viewing the actual password
Once you find the entry you want, double-click it. A window will pop up showing details about that password entry. You will see the account name and a field labeled "password" with dots or asterisks hiding the actual text.
To see the password in plain text, check the box next to "Show password". macOS will ask you to enter your Mac login password. Type it and press Enter. The password will now appear in the window instead of dots.
Write down the password or copy it (Command + C) if you need it elsewhere. The password will stay visible until you close this window or uncheck the "Show password" box.
Changing a saved password in Keychain
You can edit a password directly in Keychain without visiting the website. Find the entry, double-click it, and check "Show password" to see the current one. Then click in the password field and change the text to whatever you want. Click "Save changes" when you are done.
Keep in mind that changing the password in Keychain does not change it on the actual website or service. If you change your Amazon password in Keychain but do not change it on Amazon.com, the next time you try to log in to Amazon, the old password will not work. Use this feature only if you have already changed the password on the website and want to update what Keychain has stored.
If you want to change a password and have Keychain remember the new one, go to the website first, change the password there, and then let macOS save the new password when you log in.
Deleting passwords you no longer need
If you want to remove a password from Keychain, find it in the list, click it once to select it, and press the Delete key. A confirmation window will appear asking if you are sure. Click "Delete" to remove it permanently.
Deleting a password from Keychain does not change anything on the website or service — it only removes it from your Mac. You can still log in to that service; you will just have to type the password manually next time, or use a password reset link if you forget it.
What to do if you forgot your Mac login password
If you cannot remember your Mac login password, you cannot view passwords in Keychain, because macOS requires it for security. You will need to reset your Mac login password first. You can do this through your Apple ID if you set one up when you created your Mac account, or through Recovery Mode if you did not.
Once you have reset your Mac login password and can log in again, you will be able to open Keychain Access and view your saved passwords. The passwords themselves are not lost — they are just locked until you can prove you own the Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see passwords saved on my iPhone in Keychain Access on my Mac?
Only if you have turned on iCloud Keychain in System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on both devices. When it is on, passwords sync between your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices. If it is off, passwords stay separate on each device.
Is it safe to store passwords in Keychain?
Yes. Keychain encrypts passwords and requires your Mac login password to view them. If someone steals your Mac but does not know your login password, they cannot see your passwords. The main risk is if someone gains access to your Mac while you are logged in.
What if a website password is not showing up in Keychain even though I saved it?
Some websites do not work with Keychain, or you may have chosen not to save the password when prompted. You can also manually add a password to Keychain: open Keychain Access, go to File > New Password Item, and fill in the website, account name, and password.
Can I export all my passwords from Keychain?
Keychain does not have a built-in export feature. You can view passwords one at a time, but there is no way to read them all at once. If you want to move passwords to another service, you will need to note them individually or use a third-party password manager.
What happens to Keychain passwords if I sell my Mac?
Before selling your Mac, erase it completely using Erase Mac in System Settings > General. This removes all data, including Keychain passwords. The new owner will start fresh with an empty Keychain.