How to find forgotten passwords on Mac?

Passwords have become more and more common in users’ daily lives in 2024. Although it is increasingly recommended to generate different passwords for each online service, forgetting remains common. On Mac computers, certain tips allow secure access to all passwords. However, an alternative solution, with a multiplatform nature, is also possible: password managers.

There is a significant number of software programs that help the user memorize their passwords. On macOS, a native solution is integrated by Apple. On the other hand, third-party password managers are also possible. This is the case, for example, with NordPass and Dashlane.

Use Keychain Access

This solution for saving and recovering passwords is probably the simplest for Mac users. Natively integrated into Apple’s operating system, it allows you to find a forgotten password on Mac.

1. Open the macOS Launchpad.
2. Enter “Keychain Access” in the search bar.
3. Launch the application.
4. If a window asks you to choose between “Passwords” and “Keychain Access”, select the second choice. The heading “Passwords” in macOS refers to system passwords, not website passwords.
5. We use the search bar located at the top right of the window to navigate through the different identifiers. For example, you can search for “Gmail” to access the password for a Gmail account.

To view the forgotten password on one of the lines in the access keychain on Mac or to copy it (right-click), it will be necessary to enter the password for the current session. For example, if my macOS credentials are:

Username: Florent / Session password: florent_admin

To read or copy one of the identifiers saved in my access keychain, I enter florent_admin in the password requested by my Mac.

How to view passwords saved on a server?

Show passwords on Safari

Safari allows you to save passwords and view them. This functionality is based on the iCloud system, coupled with the Mac’s Keychain Access, in order to unify the saving of identifiers in the system. This also allows access to it on other devices in the Apple ecosystem (iOS and iPadOS). Here is the procedure to follow to access your passwords on Safari on a Mac:

1. We open the Safari web browser.
2. We click on the Safari menu at the top left of the screen.
3. We click on Settings.
4. We click on the “Passwords” tab.
5. You identify yourself with the password of the open Mac session or with Touch ID if the computer allows it.

Show passwords on Chrome

Google Chrome integrates a password manager synchronized in the Cloud with all devices on which the Google browser is installed and connected to the same user account. To access passwords from a computer (and in particular, a Mac), here are the steps to follow:

1. We open the Google Chrome browser.
2. We locate our profile image in the upper right corner of the window and click on it.
3. In the pane that opens, click on the icon representing a key.
4. A new tab opens, this is the Google Chrome password manager.
5. As on Safari, to view one of the saved passwords, it will be necessary to enter the session identifiers of the Mac to which you are connected.

Show passwords on Firefox

Like Google Chrome, the Mozilla Firefox browser also has a password manager synchronized in the Cloud. Here’s how to view a forgotten password on Mac for Firefox users:

1. Open the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
2. Click on the three parallel lines in the upper right corner of the screen. This icon opens the software’s quick access menu.
3. Click on the Passwords line.

This quick tip allows you to view all saved login credentials on Firefox. It is nevertheless necessary to be connected to your user account in order to activate this functionality and benefit from it on all devices connected to this identifier.

Storing passwords on a server or device: a questionable method?

Is security a problem?

If saving passwords on a remote server makes it possible to simplify the daily life of the user who can do without memorizing their access, the method is nevertheless questionable in terms of security. If Apple offers a rather secure solution in this sense with a real password manager integrated into iCloud, security can be a point of discussion for Chrome and Firefox, which do not have third-party software from the family of password managers. pass.

An alternative: password managers

Password managers are software designed specifically to save secure user credentials. The publishers and developers of these utilities are aware of the security issues of their software and place security at the forefront. Specialists in the field, these experts focus on the core of their business and offer secure solutions dedicated to password management. We are thinking in particular of the NordPass software, which meets numerous criteria for the most demanding users.