Keychain Access is in your Utilities folder
Keychain Access is a built-in Mac application that stores passwords, credit card information, and secure notes. To open it, go to Applications, then Utilities, then double-click Keychain Access. You can also press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type "keychain access", and press Enter.
The application opens to your login keychain by default, which holds most of your saved passwords and account information. If you have never opened Keychain Access before, you may not see much — it only displays items you have actively saved or that applications have stored there.
Key Takeaways
- Keychain Access lives in Applications > Utilities, or you can find it instantly by searching "keychain access" in Spotlight.
- Your login keychain is the default view and contains passwords and account details that macOS and your applications have saved.
- You can view saved passwords by double-clicking an entry, though you will need to enter your Mac password to see the actual password text.
- Keychain Access also shows you certificates, secure notes, and other stored credentials across multiple keychains if you have them.
Using Spotlight to find Keychain Access faster
If you use Keychain Access regularly, Spotlight search is the quickest route. Press Command + Space anywhere on your Mac, type the first few letters of "keychain", and the application appears at the top of the results. Press Enter to open it immediately.
This method is faster than navigating through folders, especially if you are already working in another application and need to check a saved password quickly. Spotlight remembers that you opened Keychain Access, so it will appear even higher in future searches.
What you will see when Keychain Access opens
The main window shows a list of items stored in your keychain. The left sidebar displays different keychain categories — your login keychain is selected by default, but you may also see a local items keychain or iCloud keychain depending on your Mac setup. The center column lists all stored items, and the right panel shows details about whichever item you select.
Each entry shows the account name and the service it belongs to — for example, "user@gmail.com (Google)" or "AppleID (iCloud)". Passwords themselves do not appear in the list for security reasons. To view a password, double-click the entry and check the "Show password" checkbox, then enter your Mac login password when prompted.
Finding a specific password or account
Use the search box at the top right of the Keychain Access window to find a particular entry. Type the account name, service name, or website — for example, typing "gmail" will show all Gmail-related entries. The search works across all visible keychains, so you do not have to switch between them manually.
If you cannot find an entry you expected to see, check which keychain is selected in the left sidebar. Some passwords may be stored in iCloud keychain instead of your login keychain, or in a local items keychain if you created one. You can also check the Category column to filter by password, certificate, or secure note.
Viewing and copying passwords safely
Double-click any password entry to open a details window. Check the box next to "Show password" and enter your Mac login password when the system asks. The actual password text then appears in the field. You can select and copy this text, but be careful not to paste it anywhere unsafe or leave it visible on your screen.
If you have forgotten a password and need to retrieve it, this is the fastest way to find it without resetting the account. However, if you cannot remember your Mac login password, you will not be able to view the stored passwords — they remain encrypted until you authenticate.
Understanding different keychain types
Most Macs have at least two keychains: your login keychain and iCloud keychain. The login keychain stores passwords and information on your computer only. iCloud keychain syncs passwords across all your Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, and other Macs — so you have the same passwords everywhere.
If you see a "Local Items" keychain, that is a separate storage area for certificates or other credentials that do not sync. You can create additional keychains if you want to organize passwords by category or keep certain credentials separate, though most people use only the default login and iCloud keychains.
What to do if Keychain Access will not open
If Keychain Access does not respond when you try to open it, restart your Mac first — this fixes most temporary issues. If it still will not open, try opening it from Spotlight search instead of the Utilities folder, as the folder shortcut can sometimes become corrupted.
If Keychain Access opens but shows no items or displays an error message, your keychain may be locked or damaged. You can lock and unlock your login keychain from the menu at the top of the window — click the lock icon next to "login" in the left sidebar. If the problem persists, you may need to reset your keychain, which requires your Mac login password and will remove all stored items.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export passwords from Keychain Access?
Keychain Access does not have a built-in export function for security reasons. You can view individual passwords and copy them manually, but you cannot save all passwords to a file at once. If you need to transfer passwords to another Mac, use iCloud keychain to sync them automatically instead.
Is Keychain Access the same as iCloud Keychain?
Keychain Access is the application where you view and manage all your keychains. iCloud Keychain is one type of keychain that syncs across devices. When you open Keychain Access, you can see both your local login keychain and your iCloud keychain in the left sidebar.
What if I forgot my Mac password and need a saved password?
You cannot view passwords in Keychain Access without entering your Mac login password. If you have forgotten it, you will need to reset your Mac password through System Settings or use your Apple ID to regain access. Until then, your keychain remains locked.
Why does Keychain Access show some passwords but not others?
Passwords appear in Keychain Access only if you saved them or if an application stored them there automatically. Passwords you enter but never save do not appear. Some applications also store credentials in their own secure storage instead of the system keychain, so they will not show up here.
Can I delete a saved password from Keychain Access?
Yes. Right-click any entry and select "Delete", or click the entry and press the Delete key. The password is removed from your keychain immediately. If you delete a password by mistake, you will need to reset that account's password through the website or application to create a new one.