ALL saved safari passwords gone

[Renq]

Hey,

I changed the user type of an existing user on my Mac from admin to normal user. Apparently, if you do this, all safari passwords get deleted automatically. No idea why, but it does happen, I checked it several times now.

Anyone knows whether passwords which vanished like that can reappear somehow?

Best Regards

 

[MarineBand5524]

No idea, never heard of it happening. I'd probably use this time to think about using an actual password manager.

 

[zorinlynx]

No idea, never heard of it happening. I'd probably use this time to think about using an actual password manager.

Keychain IS an actual password manager.

OP, you may be able to get your passwords back by restoring your ~/Library/Keychains folder from a backup made before this happened.

 

[MarineBand5524]

Keychain IS an actual password manager.

OP, you may be able to get your passwords back by restoring your ~/Library/Keychains folder from a backup made before this happened.

yes but at least using 1Password I've never lost anything like this.

I hope the restore will help.

 

[Slartibart]

which version of MacOS? Besides - obviously you reported it to Apple, I assume?

 

[Mr. Heckles]

yes but at least using 1Password I've never lost anything like this.

I hope the restore will help.

This was one of many reasons why I don’t use iCloud Keychain. I lost my passwords twice using it, and switched after the 2nd time.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I know it doesn't help now but, always, always have a backup of your passwords in case something like what the OP experienced happens.

 

[Fishrrman]

Long, long ago I realized that I needed "my own repository" of the many different passwords I use.

I DO NOT trust the Mac to keep track of them.

I used a database app (iData) to create my own password archive.
For a friend stumbling around in "password hell", I found it's also possible to create a password-protected WP file in Pages, using the tables feature to "house" the sites/passwords.

And of course, the other way is to write them all down in "a black book"...

 

[gilby101]

And of course, the other way is to write them all down in "a black book"...

That is what my other half does - it really is black. I insist on 1Password. Not clear which better.

 

[rebl]

I am on Ventura 13.1, I didnt do anything, ALL my passwords are gone! They should be saved within iCloud, on my iPhone they are still there ...

P.S. This 1password discussion is totally offtopic. Personally I would prefer iCloud Keychain in any case because it just works everywhere cross-device. Also @Fishrrman You do not trust encryption but you save your passwords unencrypted in plaintext in a password protected file, this makes absolutely no sense. Also @Apple_Robert it makes no sense to keep a "backup" when the whole purpose if iCloud Keychain is to make it obsolet to create and remember passwords because keychain does automatically create impossible-to-guess passwords for you, a different one for each website/app, and stores them for you so you dont have to worry about passwords anymore.

EDIT: Restarted and all passwords are back

 

[Sheb]

I am on Ventura 13.1, I didnt do anything, ALL my passwords are gone! They should be saved within iCloud, on my iPhone they are still there ...

P.S. This 1password discussion is totally offtopic. Personally I would prefer iCloud Keychain in any case because it just works everywhere cross-device. Also @Fishrrman You do not trust encryption but you save your passwords unencrypted in plaintext in a password protected file, this makes absolutely no sense. Also @Apple_Robert it makes no sense to keep a "backup" when the whole purpose if iCloud Keychain is to make it obsolet to create and remember passwords because keychain does automatically create impossible-to-guess passwords for you, a different one for each website/app, and stores them for you so you dont have to worry about passwords anymore.

EDIT: Restarted and all passwords are back

My passwords have dissapeared twice on safari - restart fixes it for a while...be good to know how to stop it doing that!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I am on Ventura 13.1, I didnt do anything, ALL my passwords are gone! They should be saved within iCloud, on my iPhone they are still there ...

P.S. This 1password discussion is totally offtopic. Personally I would prefer iCloud Keychain in any case because it just works everywhere cross-device. Also @Fishrrman You do not trust encryption but you save your passwords unencrypted in plaintext in a password protected file, this makes absolutely no sense. Also @Apple_Robert it makes no sense to keep a "backup" when the whole purpose if iCloud Keychain is to make it obsolet to create and remember passwords because keychain does automatically create impossible-to-guess passwords for you, a different one for each website/app, and stores them for you so you dont have to worry about passwords anymore.

EDIT: Restarted and all passwords are back

I don't use keychain for account security purposes. If my phone (or account) is ever stolen or compromised, I don't want a bad actor having access to information normally found in keychain, like you and so many others use. From a security standpoint, my usage makes a lot of sense.

 

[Basic75]

I don't use keychain for account security purposes. If my phone (or account) is ever stolen or compromised, I don't want a bad actor having access to information normally found in keychain, like you and so many others use. From a security standpoint, my usage makes a lot of sense.

I trust Keychain with my MacRumors password.

I don't trust Keychain with my PayPal password.

 

[SalisburySam]

I’ve changed my password processes several times over the years. Latest protocol: use both 1Password and KeychainAccess/Safari, plus adding all passwords to a single stickie in the Stickies app. I then print the stickie to a physical yellow sticky note and tape it to the bezel at the bottom of my iMac. I believe in a multiple backup protocol. Have never totally lost a password with these procedures. (NB: kidding of course).

 

[gilby101]

use both 1Password and KeychainAccess/Safari, plus adding all passwords to a single stickie in the Stickies app. I then print the stickie to a physical yellow sticky note and tape it to the bezel at the bottom of my iMac. I believe in a multiple backup protocol.

Multiple backup - yes. But also multiple opportunities for compromised passwords. I believe in just one secure and reliable password storage with a tested procedure for regaining access after a major disaster (fire or theft).
And that is not sticky notes.

 

[SalisburySam]

Multiple backup - yes. But also multiple opportunities for compromised passwords. I believe in just one secure and reliable password storage with a tested procedure for regaining access after a major disaster (fire or theft).
And that is not sticky notes.

Sticky notes are just the best. For everything.🤣

 

[HiRez]

FYI, I've been having this issue on a new M2 Studio running macOS 13.5. ALL Safari passwords will periodically disappear and become unavailable in Safari, both for autofill on pages and in the app settings. Quitting Safari and restarting it restores the passwords for a while, so at least they are not permanently deleted from iCloud, but they always go away again at some point. I haven't been able to link the disappearances to anything in particular, or any set schedule. Have not had the same problem with Safari on iOS.

 

[Sheb]

Hey,

I changed the user type of an existing user on my Mac from admin to normal user. Apparently, if you do this, all safari passwords get deleted automatically. No idea why, but it does happen, I checked it several times now.

Anyone knows whether passwords which vanished like that can reappear somehow?

Best Regards

I have changed the User BUT lately, ALL passwords in Safari have been disappearing randomly- luckily it's a simple quit the browser and they come back.

 

[Sheb]

FYI, I've been having this issue on a new M2 Studio running macOS 13.5. ALL Safari passwords will periodically disappear and become unavailable in Safari, both for autofill on pages and in the app settings. Quitting Safari and restarting it restores the passwords for a while, so at least they are not permanently deleted from iCloud, but they always go away again at some point. I haven't been able to link the disappearances to anything in particular, or any set schedule. Have not had the same problem with Safari on iOS.

yep me too. same quitting to get them back.