Keychain Access

Infobox Software
name = Keychain Access



caption = Screenshot of Keychain Access on Mac OS X v10.5.
developer = Apple Computer
latest_release_version = 4.0.1 (11 February 2008)
latest_release_date =
latest_preview_version =
latest_preview_date =
operating_system = Mac OS 9, Mac OS X
genre = password manager
license =
website = http://www.apple.com/

Keychain Access is a Mac OS X application that allows the user to access the Apple Keychain and configure its contents, including passwords for Websites, Web forms, FTP servers, SSH accounts, network shares, wireless networks, groupware applications, encrypted disk images, etc. - unlocking, locking and displaying passwords saved by the system which are dynamically linked to one's login password - as well as manage root certificates, keys and secure notes.

Its graphical user interface displays various keychains — there are usually at least two, the login keychain and the system keychain — and also includes the keychain first aid utility that can repair problems with keychains. Various events can cause problems with keychains, and sometimes the only solution to solving a problem is to delete the keychain, which also deletes any passwords stored in the keychain, and create a new one.

There is also an included command-line tool to access the keychain, called "security".

It is usually found in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder. As an ancillary application to Mac OS X, it is subject to updates via Software Update and thus should not be moved out of the Utilities folder.