Safari forgets saved passwords of random websites

I use iCloud Passwords and have noticed over the past few months that all saved passwords for individual websites have disappeared (e.g. saved passwords for several Google accounts are just gone). For all these affected websites, there is only one entry in the password list left in the Safari settings with the content "never saved". This only affects very few websites, the majority of the passwords are still there and they sync with other devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac) just fine. Nevertheless, the behaviour is of course very disturbing. At least once, one the lost passwords (for a Google account) reappeared on all my devices after being lost for over two month.


Is there any reasonable explanation for this?

MacBook Air Apple Silicon

Posted on Feb 10, 2023 05:31 AM

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5 replies

Feb 12, 2023 02:02 PM in response to tom891

Hey there and welcome to Apple Support Communities tom891,


We can certainly understand your concern and can help provide some insight.


We recommend checking out these steps for more information on what to do if you are having issues with iCloud Keychain.


" If you need help with iCloud Keychain, learn what to do.


Check the System Status page for outages. Then, try the steps below.

View the passwords stored in iCloud Keychain

To view the passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, follow the steps for your device.


On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 14 or later

  1. Tap Settings > Passwords.
  2. Use Face ID or Touch ID when you're prompted.
  3. Tap a website to view your password.


On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 12 or 13

  1. Tap Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords.
  2. Use Face ID or Touch ID when you're prompted.
  3. Tap a website to view your password.


On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 11

  1. Tap Settings > Accounts & Passwords > App & Website Passwords.
  2. Use Face ID or Touch ID when you're prompted.
  3. Tap a website to view your password. "


For additional information, check out this link: If iCloud Keychain won't turn on or sync - Apple Support


These steps will help ensure your device is working with ease and can fix common issues like the ones you’re experiencing.


Kindest regards!


Feb 13, 2023 07:29 PM in response to tom891

One of the google password reappeared on your Mac / iPhone /iPad as it is an Apple ID signed in Mac , the keychain box is checked in all device so it will sync .

For other website password they disappeared as you have turned off Autofill your username and password in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

If you can’t save a password for a website or your password for a website isn’t filled in automatically, try any of the following:

  • Make sure you selected to autofill passwords: Choose Safari > Settings, click AutoFill, then make sure “Usernames and passwords” is selected.
  • Check whether you chose to never save the password for the website: Choose Safari > Settings, click Passwords, then unlock your passwords. If a website’s password shows “never saved”, click the Remove button  to remove it from this list. Then click the Add button  to add the website, your username and your password to the list.
  • Make sure you chose to use Touch ID for passwords: If your Mac or Apple keyboard has Touch ID and you want to use Touch ID to fill in user names and passwords, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Touch ID & Password  in the sidebar, then turn on Use Touch ID for autofilling passwords on the right. (You may need to scroll down.) See Change Touch ID & Password settings.
  • See Automatically fill in strong passwords on iPhone - Apple Support

Prevent iPhone from automatically filling in passwords

Go to Settings  > Passwords > Password Options, then turn off AutoFill Passwords.

So follow these articles Set up iCloud Keychain and iCloud Passwords on all your devices - Apple Support

Make your passkeys and passwords available on all your devices with iPhone and iCloud Keychain - Apple Support

Open safari preferences > in passwords section enter admin password , select the website and export the passwords Change Passwords preferences in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

Import bookmarks, history and passwords in Safari on Mac - Apple Support


From iPhone How to find saved passwords and passkeys on your iPhone - Apple Support


Feb 13, 2023 12:59 PM in response to tom891

tom891, 


We can work to further isolate the situation, though we're not able to speculate on why the situation occurs.


When this happens, is it always passwords from the same site? For example, you mentioned it was Google accounts that the passwords are not showing for. 


Let’s also add the password back manually by navigating to Settings > Passwords and then tapping the plus sign and entering the information. Does that password continue to disappear after adding it back? 


Thanks. 

Mar 9, 2023 05:44 AM in response to AnnieL2

Hi!

I did some tests over the last weeks.

To answer your questions:

1) No, it's not always the same sites. It appears to be totally random. Sometimes sites I access very frequently, sometimes sites I haven't accessed for months.

2) Re-adding them is possible. For my Google-Accounts I observed the following: I had around 10 Google-Accounts stored in iCloud. Around November 2022 all except from one disappeared and one entry with the content "never saved" was added. I re-added some of the lost passwords. Then early 2023 again all passwords except from one disappeared. The most interesting thing about this: This one password was for an account that disappeared in November and was gone since then (I haven't re-added it in between).


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Safari forgets saved passwords of random websites

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