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Free Image Format ConversionWhile many sites let you log in with your Google, Facebook, or iCloud credentials, plenty of platforms still require unique passwords. Thankfully, most operating systems and browsers let you save passwords for later.
If you're a Mac user, you can save passwords for various websites and apps. But what if you forget the password for an app or website? Fortunately, there are several ways to look up saved passwords on your Mac. In this article, we'll explore these methods. Before we do that, let's briefly discuss the types of passwords macOS saves.
What Passwords Does macOS Save?
macOS uses the iCloud Keychain and Safari's AutoFill feature to save login credentials for various websites and apps. It can store the following passwords:
- Digital bank statements
- App usernames and passwords
- Wi-Fi passwords
- Website logins and passwords
- Digital wallet PINs
4 Ways to Find Your Password on a Mac
Finding saved passwords on a Mac isn't a daunting task. There are several ways to view saved passwords on a Mac. Here are four practical methods to uncover hidden credentials with just a few steps. All four methods are described based on the latest version of macOS. If you're using an older macOS, the settings might differ slightly.
1. Find a saved password with iCloud Keychain
iCloud Keychain is one of the most common and secure ways to update passwords, keys, and other information across all your Apple devices. You can store and retrieve passwords on any synced device. Here's how to look up a password using iCloud Keychain on a Mac.
1. Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences…” on your Mac.
Step Two: Click on “Apple ID,” then “iCloud.” Make sure that “Keys and Passwords” is turned on.
Step 3: Now, search for the website, app, or Wi-Fi network you want to check the password for.
Step 4: Once you find it, double-click on it and check the “Show password” box to view your password.
Locate saved passwords in system settings
This is the most common and effective way to find saved passwords on a Mac. Here are the steps to retrieve them using System Preferences: 1. Open "System Preferences": Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen, then choose "System Preferences." 2. Access "Keychain Access": In the System Preferences window, locate and click on the "Keychain Access" icon, which usually resembles a padlock symbol. 3. Select "Show All Passwords": On the left side of the Keychain Access window, click the "Keychains" dropdown menu and choose "Show All." 4. Authorize Access: You may be prompted to enter your administrator password to view the contents of the Keychain. Type the password and click "Allow." 5. Search for the Password: In the search bar at the top, type the name of the website, application, or service for which you want to find the saved password. The system will display related saved passwords. 6. View and Copy the Password: Once you've found the relevant entry, double-click it. In the dialog box that appears, click the "Show" button. Enter your administrator password again, and the hidden password will be displayed. You can then choose to copy the password, but make sure to handle it securely. Please note that this method applies to modern versions of macOS. Earlier versions of macOS might have slight variations, but the basic steps remain similar.
Step 1: Choose “System Preferences…” from the Apple menu and click “Passwords.”
Step 2: Log in with Touch ID, or enter your user account credentials.
Step 3. Choose the site for which you want to view the password, and click “Edit.” There, you'll see the saved password.
This image shows the "Passwords" interface in the System Settings on macOS Ventura.
3. Finding Saved Passwords in Safari
Safari is the default web browser on all Apple devices. Like Google Chrome, it also has a feature for saving passwords to websites you visit. Here's how to look up saved passwords in Safari.
< strong > Step 1. Open Safari, and choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
Step 2: Click on “Password”.
Step 3: Next, sign in with your credentials, such as Touch ID or your username and password.
Step 4. Choose a site and click “Edit” to view your saved passwords.
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4. Use Siri to Find Saved Passwords
Siri is the default AI voice assistant on Apple devices. You can use it to perform almost any action with voice commands. You can also use Siri to check your saved passwords. Here's how, in a few steps.
Step 1. Say “Hey Siri” to activate the voice assistant.
Step 2. Then, the Siri icon will appear. Say something like, "Show me my Quora password."
Step 3: The system will ask you for your credentials to confirm that no one else is using the device. After you've authenticated, it will display the password you need.
Bonus Tip: Use the tool MobiUnlock to Find Saved Passwords
If you use a Mac, you may also have an iPhone or iPad. If you use the same iCloud account on all your devices, then iCloud will sync your data across all of them.
This feature allows you to access your information from anywhere and on any device. If you want to view the passwords saved on your Mac device on any other Apple device, you might consider using a tool like MobiUnlock.
MobiUnlock is an iPhone unlock tool that also offers an extra feature to find saved passwords on all Apple devices. It lets you view saved website, app, Wi-Fi, and email passwords on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Additionally, you can export passwords from one device to another. Here's how to use this viewer to access stored passwords.
Bottom line
In today's world, we have so many digital accounts that no one could possibly remember all the passwords. Many platforms allow you to log in using your “master” account, such as Google or iCloud.
On the other hand, some platforms require you to create dedicated credentials. To accommodate these requirements, macOS allows you to save passwords for websites and apps that you find in these ways.