How To Fix “Accountsd Wants To Use The Login Keychain”

author avatarTodor Pichurov Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

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If you’re seeing the persistent “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” message, you’re not alone.

This prompt typically appears on macOS when your login keychain password is out of sync with your user password.

When passwords are mismatched, apps that rely on Keychain Access may have trouble accessing stored data, which triggers this message.

Let’s review what causes this issue and the best ways to resolve it and regain access to your login keychain.

This Article Contains:

What are accountsd and callservicesd?

Accountsd is a system daemon (background process) on macOS that belongs to the Accounts Framework. This framework starts login credentials for apps and services to authenticate access on your Mac.

It enables app developers to integrate account access without giving them direct access to your usernames and passwords. For this to work, accountsd requires access to your login keychain, which securely stores your login credentials for different accounts on macOS.

If the system detects that your login password and keychain password are out of sync, you may see the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” message.

On the other hand, callservicesd is another daemon that focuses on managing the call state. This daemon is involved in coordinating services like FaceTime, Contacts, and certain third-party video-calling apps.

It accesses the Keychain to verify log in credentials and facilitate seamless calling experiences across your Apple devices.

The message “callservicesd wants to use the login keychain” may appear when your Mac attempts to sync these services, especially if your login password and keychain passwords don’t match.

Why does the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” message appear?

This message appears when macOS is unable to access your login keychain due to a password mismatch.

When you change your user password—for example, after a system update or a reset—the password for the login keychain doesn’t automatically sync.

As a result, macOS prompts you with the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” message as it attempts to authenticate access to your saved account details and stored passwords.

Common reasons include:

  1. Changing your Mac login password without updating the keychain password.
  2. Issues with iCloud Keychain syncing settings.
  3. A corrupted or locked login keychain file.

Below, we’ll walk you through several steps to resolve this issue quickly.

How to fix “accountsd wants to use the login keychain”

If you’re seeing the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” prompt repeatedly, it usually means your login keychain password and user password are out of sync.

This guide will walk you through simple steps to fix the issue and regain smooth access to your login keychain.

1. Resync Keychain password with Mac login password

Start by ensuring your keychain password matches the password used to log in.

  1. Navigate to Applications > Utilities and launch Keychain Access app.
  2. In Keychain Access, go to the Edit menu and select Change Password for Keychain "login".
  3. When prompted, enter your previous user password under Current Password and your new login password under New Password and Verify.
  4. Click Save to confirm. This will synchronize your login keychain password with your Mac’s current login password.
the keychain access app

This should remove the “accountsd wants to use” message. However, if the message persists, continue to the next steps.

2. Turn Keychain auto-lock off

Sometimes, Keychain auto lock can cause frequent prompts, especially if you’re using iCloud Keychain.

  1. Double-click the Keychain Access app.
  2. Select the login keychain in the left sidebar.
  3. Click on Edit from the Keychain Access menu and choose Change Settings for Keychain "login".
keychain access menu action to change keychain settings
  1. Deselect both Lock after… minutes of inactivity and Lock when sleeping options.
  2. Click Save to update your settings.
keychain auto lock menu

3. Create a new login keychain

If resyncing doesn’t resolve the issue, creating a new default keychain can be a more comprehensive solution.

Follow these steps carefully:

  1. Open Finder, select the Go menu and choose Go to Folder.
  2. Type ~/Library/Keychains and click Go to get in the keychains folder.
finder keychains folder
  1. Locate the keychain, hold down Option, and drag it to your Desktop to create a backup of the existing login keychain.
  2. Go back to Keychain Access and open Keychain Access > Settings.
  3. Click Reset My Default Keychains to create a new keychain.
reset default keychains

Note that when you create a new keychain, it will have the same password as your user account.

With a new keychain created, you can add necessary items from the old keychain by following the steps in the next section.

4. Import items from the old keychain

If you need passwords or login credentials from your old keychain file, you can import these manually:

  1. In Keychain Access, go to File > Add Keychain.
  2. Navigate to your Desktop, select the saved keychain, and click Add.
  3. To move items to the new login keychain, right-click any item, choose Copy, then paste it into the new keychain.

This process allows you to transfer specific items without needing to remember each password.

Note: You cannot add entries to the iCloud keychain directly, so only the local keychain is applicable here.

5. Use Keychain First Aid (for macOS Mojave and older)

If you’re on an older macOS version that supports Keychain First Aid, this feature can fix permission errors in Keychain Access:

  1. In Keychain Access, click on Keychain Access in the top menu and select Keychain First Aid.
  2. Enter your admin password, choose Repair, and click Start.
  3. Let Keychain First Aid complete the process.

For users on newer macOS versions, skip this step, as Keychain First Aid has been removed from recent macOS updates.

6. Remove the pop-up from your browser

If the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” notification appears in your browser, it may indicate an issue with the iCloud Keychain or cached data in your web browser.

Clearing your browser’s cache and resetting its settings can often resolve these pop-ups.

Here’s how to handle this in popular browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

In Safari

  1. Go to Safari > Settings.
  2. Open the Advanced tab and check Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. In the menu bar, go to Develop > Empty Caches.
  4. Navigate to History > Clear History and confirm you want to clear All History.
  5. Back in Settings, select the Privacy tab.
  6. Click Manage Website Data and choose Remove All > Done.

After completing these steps, relaunch Safari and see if the message reappears.

In Google Chrome

  1. Open Chrome and go to the menu (three dots).
  2. Select Delete browsing data.
  3. Checl all options (Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, Cached images and files), then click Delete.
  4. Go to the menu again and choose Settings.
  5. Scroll down to Reset and clean up and choose Restore settings to their original defaults, then confirm.

Once done, restart Chrome and verify if the prompt still appears.

In Firefox

  1. Open Firefox, then click on the menu (three lines) and click Help.
  2. Select More troubleshooting information.
  3. On the right side, click Refresh Firefox and confirm to reset.

Restart Firefox to check if the accountsd notification has been resolved.

What is iCloud Keychain and how does it relate to accountsd?

iCloud Keychain is a feature that securely stores your login credentials, credit card information, and Wi-Fi passwords across all your Apple devices.

When enabled, it synchronizes your keychain data, ensuring seamless access to saved passwords and account details across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

When the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” message appears, iCloud Keychain may also be affected, especially if the passwords for your login keychain and iCloud Keychain are out of sync.

To resolve this, you might need to check your iCloud Keychain settings:

  1. Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud.
  2. Make sure iCloud Keychain is enabled.
  3. If necessary, re-enter your Apple ID and iCloud password to resync iCloud Keychain.
icloud keychain settings in system settings

This ensures your keychain access works smoothly across devices, allowing for uninterrupted access to all of your stored passwords, bank account details, and other credentials.

Use SpyHunter to protect your Mac

In some instances, persistent keychain alerts may indicate the presence of malware or unwanted software trying to access sensitive information.

Protecting your Mac with reliable cybersecurity software like SpyHunter can mitigate these risks.

SpyHunter excels in identifying and removing malware, protecting your personal information, and enhancing your computer’s performance.

Download the app from here and follow the instructions on your screen to install the app properly.

Once installed, launch SpyHunter and use its main menu to initiate a full scan of your Mac. The application will soon display a list of all malware that potentially exists on your system.

remove malware, trojans, and other threats with spyhunter

Select all malicious items and use the interface buttons to proceed with the automated removal of threats. If required, reboot your Mac and enjoy a safer experience and a more stable system.

remove malware, viruses, and potentially unwanted programs with spyhunter for mac

Conclusion

Resolving the “accountsd wants to use the login keychain” notification can seem daunting, but it’s usually a matter of syncing your keychain password with your user password or making small adjustments in Keychain Access.

By following these steps and securing your stored passwords through iCloud Keychain or manual backups, you can ensure smoother login experiences on your Mac.

If you continue to face issues, consider consulting Apple Support or performing a full system check to keep your macOS running smoothly.

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author avatar

Todor has over a decade of experience in creating content about cybersecurity. He specializes in making complex security topics understandable for all. As part of the SpyHunter team, Todor uses his expertise to educate users, empowering them to better understand and manage their digital environments securely and efficiently.

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