How to Find Saved Passwords on Your Mac: 3 Best Ways

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: July 27, 2024

Expert verified

I’ve had my fair share of struggles to keep track of various passwords. But that was before I knew about the built-in features Mac comes with to store and manage your passwords. In this guide, I’ll show you how to quickly find saved passwords on your Mac, ensuring easy access to your accounts while maintaining security.

How to Find Saved Passwords on Your Mac

Below, I’ve shared the methods I personally use to find saved passwords on Mac.

1. Via System Settings

If you know your way around macOS, using System Settings is a quick way to view, edit, or delete your saved login details on a Mac. Now, let’s go through the steps to find saved passwords on your Mac via the System Settings:

1. Navigate to the Apple Menu and click System Settings.

2. Click Passwords in the left sidebar.
3. Once you’re in the Passwords section, you’ll be prompted to enter your admin password for security verification.

4. After authenticating, you’ll see a list of accounts with saved passwords.

5. To reveal a specific password, click the small i next to the account title in the list.

6. A new window will appear with the password hidden. Hover your mouse over the password to reveal it.

7. If you want to copy the password, click the password and select Copy Password.

8. If you want to modify the saved credentials, click the Edit button.

9. At this point, you can edit both the Username and Password information.

10. If you need to change your password on the actual website, click the Change Password on Website button.

11. You can also delete the password by clicking the Delete Password button.

2. Via Web Browser Settings

Web browsers like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox have built-in password managers that are secure and easy to use. Let’s see how you can find your saved passwords through each of these browsers.

a. Safari

Follow these steps to find saved passwords on your Mac via Safari:

1. Open Safari on your Mac.
2. Click Safari in the menu bar and go to Settings.

3. Navigate to the Passwords tab.
4. Use Touch ID or enter your Mac’s password to authenticate.

5. You will see a list of saved passwords for various websites. Click any entry to view the password.

6. If the password is hidden, hover your mouse over it to reveal it.

b. Google Chrome

Here’s how you can find saved passwords on your Mac using Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome on your Mac.
2. Click the three vertical dots at the top-right corner to open the menu and go to Settings.

3. Select Autofill and passwords in the left sidebar.

4. Click Google Password Manager.

5. It will open a new tab where you’ll see a list of saved passwords.

6. Click the eye icon next to the password you want to reveal. You may be asked to enter your Mac’s password for security.

c. Firefox

You can find saved passwords on your Mac via Firefox following these steps:

1. Open Firefox on your Mac.
2. Click the three horizontal lines at the top-right corner and choose Settings.

3. Click Privacy & Security in the left sidebar.

4. Scroll down to Logins and Passwords and click Saved Logins.

5. A new tab will open where you’ll see a list of saved passwords. Click the Show Passwords button to reveal them.

3. Via Keychain Access

Keychain Access on your Mac is like a secure safe. It holds passwords, certificates, keys, and secure notes. It’s a complete tool for managing sensitive info. It’s user-friendly and adds extra security for your stored details.

Follow these steps to find saved passwords on your Mac using Keychain Access:

1. Open the Spotlight Search by pressing Command ⌘ + Space and type in Keychain Access.

2. Open the Keychain Access application.
3. In the left sidebar, click the login category under Default Keychains.

4. On the right side, click the Passwords category.

5. You’ll see a list of saved credentials. Double-click the one you’re interested in.

6. A small window will open with details about the entry you selected.
7. Check the box next to Show Password at the bottom of the window.

8. You’ll be prompted to enter your “login” keychain password to reveal the stored password. Enter the password and click Allow.

What Passwords Does macOS Save?

macOS securely keeps all sorts of passwords and credentials, like Wi-Fi networks and web logins, to secure email certificates. Here’s what kinds of passwords macOS can save:

1. 🌐 Website Passwords: macOS stores usernames and passwords for websites. It does so mainly through Safari but also in other browsers that support its password management.
2. 🖥️ Application Passwords: For software needing login details, macOS’s keychain can save these, so you don’t re-enter them each time the app opens.
3. 📶 Wi-Fi Passwords: Once you enter a Wi-Fi password, macOS remembers it and automatically connects to that network when in range, without needing re-entry.
4. 📧 Email Accounts: Using Apple’s Mail app or another client, macOS can save your email passwords for automatic email retrieval and sending.
5. ☁️ iCloud Keychain: With iCloud Keychain, your passwords are stored on your device and synced across all Apple devices, like your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
6. 🔒 VPN Credentials: For VPN use, macOS can store your login details, eliminating the need to enter them every time you connect to your VPN.
7. 🛡️ Disk Encryption Passwords: macOS manages passwords for FileVault or other encryption methods, though these aren’t directly accessible in the regular password tools for security.
8. 🌍 Shared Network Passwords: Passwords for network drives or shared resources are stored by macOS for easier access within the network.
9. 📝 Secure Notes: macOS’s Keychain Access also lets you securely store confidential notes, adding security for sensitive text information.

Protect Yourself Against Data Breaches With MacKeeper

Data breaches are common, risking your usernames and passwords. So, it’s crucial to act proactively. I recommend using MacKeeper’s ID Theft Guard which helps by constantly checking for your info in breaches and alerting you if it’s compromised. This way, you can quickly change passwords and lower identity theft or financial risks.

Follow these simple steps to use MacKeeper’s ID Theft Guard:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. After installation, open MacKeeper and click ID Theft Guard in the Privacy section.

3. Click Open.

4. Enter your email address and press Start Scan.

5. If your email address is safe, you’ll see the No data breaches found notification. Click Continue.

6. Now, tap the Turn On Monitoring button in the bottom-right corner.

7. You will see the Data breach monitor is on notification at the top of the window. It will monitor your Mac in the background and instantly inform you in the event of a data breach or leak to re-secure everything and prevent further damage quickly.

Never Forget a Saved Password on Your Mac

Managing passwords can often feel daunting, but macOS offers a variety of secure and user-friendly methods to help you keep track of your credentials. Here are some more tips to protect your privacy on Mac:

• Use FileVault disk encryption on Mac to protect your data by encrypting its entire drive. If your laptop is lost or stolen, the data remains inaccessible without the decryption key.
• Some websites can steal your sensitive data. Learn how to identify and block suspicious websites on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox to protect your information.
• If you want to protect your data, learn how to password-protect a folder on your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions