How to Restore iCloud Keychain on Mac

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Verify iCloud Keychain sync settings

   Open System Settings from the Apple menu. Click your Apple ID name at the top of the sidebar, select iCloud, and click Passwords & Keychain. Ensure the toggle for Sync this Mac is set to On.

   Note: If the toggle is already On, toggle it Off and back On to force a re-sync.
2. 1 min

   Check Keychain Access utility

   Launch Keychain Access from Applications > Utilities. Select the login keychain in the sidebar and ensure it is unlocked. Right-click login and select Lock Keychain if it is currently unlocked, then unlock it again to refresh the local cache.

   Note: Command + Space
3. 2 min

   Repair Keychain permissions

   While inside the Keychain Access app, click the Keychain Access menu in the top menu bar. Select Keychain First Aid and enter your administrator password. Click Verify to scan for errors, then click Repair if any issues are identified.

   Note: Keychain First Aid is not available in every macOS version; proceed to step 4 if this menu item is missing.
4. 1 min

   Re-authenticate the Mac

   Return to System Settings and click your Apple ID. Select Sign Out at the bottom of the right-hand pane. Confirm the prompt to remove data from this Mac, then sign back in with your Apple ID and password to trigger a clean fetch of your iCloud Keychain data.

   Note: Back up your local files before signing out, as this will remove iCloud-synced files from the device.
5. 1 min

   Confirm keychain restoration

   Open the Passwords app or Keychain Access utility. Verify that your saved website credentials and wireless passwords appear in the list. Allow a few minutes for the synchronization process to finalize in the background.

   Note: If data remains missing, check your other Apple devices to confirm they are still syncing with iCloud correctly.