[Fixed] “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” on Mac

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: July 27, 2024

Expert verified

Just the other day, I launched Siri and a notification popped up on my Mac screen: assistantd wants to use the login keychain on Mac. My first thought was, “What does that even mean?” I wasn’t sure if this was a security threat or just a routine request. Anyway, I started digging, and here’s everything I found about assistantd and how you can fix this error on your Mac.

What Is “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” on Mac?

“assistantd wants to use the login keychain” is a message that appears on Mac when a program called “assistantd” wants to access your login keychain. It is short for “assistant daemon” and is a background service related to Siri.

assistantd may require access to your keychain to retrieve information like saved passwords or account credentials. This can be necessary for Siri to provide accurate responses and fulfill your requests.

When you see this message, make sure it’s a legitimate request from the macOS system and not a suspicious activity. If you haven’t made any requests to Siri or have recently installed an unfamiliar application, double-check before granting access.

If you trust the request, enter your keychain password and click OK. If you’re unsure, click Cancel to prevent access.

How to Fix the “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” on Mac Issue

While the assistantd security feature is designed to protect your confidential data, it can be frustrating if you’re not sure how to proceed. Below, I’ve shared the most effective methods to fix assistantd wants to use the login keychain on Mac.

1. Turn the Keychain Auto-Lock Off

The Keychain Auto-Lock feature automatically locks the login keychain after a certain period of inactivity. Then, you’re required to enter your password to unlock it. Turning off this feature will stop the login keychain from locking automatically and prevent assistantd wants to use the login keychain on Mac.

Here’s how to turn off Keychain Auto-Lock on Mac:

1. Open the Keychain Access app in the Utilities folder in Applications.

2. Click login in the left sidebar.

3. Click Edit in the Apple menu and select Change Settings for Keychain “login”.

4. In the pop-up window, uncheck the boxes next to Lock after X minutes of inactivity and Lock when sleeping. Click Save and exit the Keychain Access app.

By disabling Keychain Auto-Lock, your login keychain won’t lock automatically, which should stop the “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” message.

2. Reset the Login Keychain

The next solution is to reset the login keychain. This will delete your existing login information and create a new login keychain. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Keychain Access on your Mac by going to Applications > Utilities.

2. Click the login keychain in the left-hand panel.

3. Click Edit at the top of the screen and select Change Password for Keychain’ login.‘

4. Enter your current login password and click OK.
5. Enter a new password for the login keychain and click OK.
6. Restart your Mac and check if the assistantd login keychain issue has been resolved.

3. Create a New Login Keychain

Creating a new login keychain can resolve assistantd wants to use the login keychain on Mac. It creates a new keychain file containing all your passwords and other secure information. This new keychain file will replace the old, possibly corrupted keychain file, causing the error message.

Here’s how to create a new login keychain on Mac:

1. Open the Keychain Access app.

2. Click File in the Apple menu and select New Keychain.

3. Give the new keychain a name and click Create.

4. Enter a password for the new keychain. Then, enter the same password in the Verify section, and click OK to save the new password.

4. Use Disk Utility First Aid

Using Disk Utility’s First Aid feature can also resolve assistantd wants to use the login keychain on Mac. This built-in macOS tool allows you to manage and repair disks, including your startup disk, containing your keychain files.

To use Disk Utility First Aid to fix the assistantd login keychain issue, follow these steps:

1. Launch Spotlight on your Mac, type Disk Utility, and launch the app.

2. Click the First Aid button in the top toolbar.

3. In the new pop-up, click Run to start the First Aid process.

4. Click Continue on the second warning prompt.

5. Disk Utility will now scan your disk for any errors or issues and attempt to repair them. The scanning process can take a while, depending on the size of your disk and the number of errors that need to be fixed.
6. Once Disk Utility has completed the First Aid process, click Done and restart your Mac to see if the error message still appears.

5. Reset Local Keychain

Your local keychain is specific to your user account and is stored on your Mac’s hard drive. When you reset your local keychain, you delete the current keychain file and create a new one. This can potentially fix the assistantd error on your Mac.

To reset your local keychain, follow these steps:

1. Open the Keychain Access app on your Mac.

2. In the menu bar, select Keychain Access > Settings.

3. Click the Reset My Default Keychain button on the pop-up window.

4. Select Use Password on the prompt. Alternatively, you can use Touch ID to allow access.

5. Enter your user account password and click OK.

6. Keychain Access will now reset your local keychain. This process may take time, depending on the size of your keychain file.

6. Disable iCloud Keychain

The “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” issue on your Mac can be related to your iCloud Keychain. iCloud Keychain saves your passwords, credit card information, and other secure data across your Apple devices. Disabling your iCloud Keychain can sometimes resolve the issue.

To disable your iCloud Keychain on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple icon and open the System Settings on your Mac.

2. Click your Apple ID and select iCloud from the list.

3. Scroll down and click the Password & Keychain option.

4. Toggle off the Sync this Mac switch in the next window and click Done.

7. Delete accountsd

accountsd manages accounts and passwords on your Mac. Deleting accountsd can resolve issues related to login keychain like assistantd wants to use the login keychain on Mac.

When you delete the accountsd files, your Mac will recreate them automatically. To delete accountsd, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac, type the following command, and press Enter:

sudo killall -KILL accountsd

2. Type your admin password and press Enter.

3. Restart your system, and it should resolve the assistantd issue on your Mac.

8. Use an Antivirus

Although a virus scan doesn’t directly resolve the “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” error message, it can protect your data. If assistantd accesses the login keychain, it can put your sensitive information at risk.

MacKeeper’s Antivirus protects your Mac against malicious files by blocking them instantly. Here’s how to use it to run a virus scan on your Mac:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. Open MacKeeper and click Antivirus under the Security section.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Wait for the scan to complete. This can take a while. Once the scan completes, you’ll see a No threats found message on your screen if your Mac is safe from malware. Tap Restart to go back to the start screen.

5. On the start screen, click Enable to enable real-time protection.

6. Tap Open Settings.

7. It will open the Mac’s Privacy & Security tab. Here, toggle on the MacKeeper switch.

8. Enter your Mac password if prompted and tap Unlock.

9. This will turn on real-time protection and keep your Mac safe from malware.

9. Reinstall macOS

Reinstalling macOS erases the current operating system and installs a fresh copy of macOS on your Mac. It can fix system files or application issues, including the “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” error message.

However, this is a drastic step and should only be used when nothing else works.

Before reinstalling macOS, you need to erase the current version. Follow these steps to do it:

1. Launch Spotlight on your Mac, type Disk Utility and launch it.

2. Click Erase in the top toolbar.

3. Confirm your decision, and it will erase your hard drive.

Now, follow these steps to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode to reinstall macOS:

1. Connect your MacBook to the internet.
2. Turn off your Mac and turn it back on while holding down the Command ⌘ + R keys on your keyboard. Keep holding the keys until the Apple logo appears.

3. This will boot your Mac into the Recovery Mode. Once it loads, select Reinstall macOS and click Continue.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to select your startup disk and begin the reinstallation process. Note that this process may take some time, so be patient.
5. After the installation, your Mac will restart and display the Setup Assistant. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Mac, including selecting your language, creating a user account, and configuring settings.
6. Once you’ve completed the setup process, you should have a fresh macOS installation without assistantd error.

How to Identify Legitimate vs. Suspicious assistantd Requests

Staying safe on your Mac means knowing which assistantd messages are okay and which are not. assistantd works with Siri, so it’s important to recognize safe messages. This helps keep your Mac and personal info safe. Below, I’ll show you simple ways to tell the difference.

Characteristics of Legitimate Requests

• 🕒 Timing and Context: Legitimate assistantd requests typically follow a user’s interaction with Siri or a related service. If you receive a prompt without using these services, it could be a sign of suspicious activity.
• 🖥️ System Behavior: A genuine assistantd request should not affect your system’s performance. If your device slows down or behaves erratically after receiving a prompt, this could indicate a security issue.
• 👀 Appearance and Wording: Authentic macOS prompts have a consistent look and wording. Be wary of any deviations in the graphical interface or unusual language, as these could signal a fraudulent request.

Signs of Suspicious Activity

• 🚨 Unexpected Prompts: Be cautious of assistantd prompts that appear without prior use of Siri or related services.
• 🔄 Frequent Requests: Multiple prompts in a short timeframe may indicate an attempt to breach your system.
• ⚠️ Additional Pop-ups or Warnings: The presence of other unusual messages or warnings alongside an assistantd request could be a sign of malware or a compromised system.

What to Do if Suspicious

1. 🚫 Do Not Enter Password: If you doubt the legitimacy of a prompt, do not enter your password or provide any personal information.
2. 🔌 Disconnect from the Internet: This can help prevent potential malware from communicating with external servers and executing further malicious activities.
3. 📞 Consult Tech Support: If in doubt, contact Apple Support or a trusted IT professional for guidance and assistance.

Preventing Similar Issues in the Future

Issues like “assistantd wants to use the login keychain” become frequent if you don’t properly maintain your Mac. Here are some of my tried and true tips to prevent such issues:

• 🆙 Regularly Update Software: I always update my macOS to prevent security issues. Software updates have security patches that fix vulnerabilities and bugs hackers could exploit. Check for updates by going to the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update.
• 🔐 Use Strong Passwords: I use strong, unique passwords for my login keychain, mixing up letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords easily.
• 🛡️ Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra security layer to your Apple ID with two-factor authentication, which requires a verification code along with your password. Activate it under Apple menu > System Settings > Apple ID > Password & Security.
• 🔒 Enable Firewall: A firewall adds a layer of security by monitoring incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocking unauthorized access. Turn on the built-in firewall on your Mac by going to the Apple menu > System Settings > Network > Firewall.
• 👨‍💻 Use Standard User Accounts: Use a standard user account for daily tasks, which allows most actions but needs admin approval for major changes, unlike the fully controlling administrator account.
• 🔍 Regularly Scan for Malware: Use antivirus and run regular virus scans to detect and remove malware infecting your Mac. This protects it from security threats that can compromise your data and privacy.

Fix the assistantd Mac Login Keychain Issue

Now that you know how to fix the assistantd login keychain issue, you can enjoy the benefits of using Siri, Dictation, and other Apple features on your Mac. To take your Mac’s security one step further, try the following:

• Remove Bing redirect virus from Mac to secure your browser activities.
• Remove Windows Defender Security Warning on Mac to make sure hackers can’t get into your system.
• Remove keyloggers from your Mac to protect against cyberattacks.

Frequently Asked Questions