Disappearing passwords in system settings on iMac 2019

Hello all, I was recently in System Settings and inadvertently clicked on a X at the top of 'passwords'. Visible Access to my passwords immediately disappeared and now, when I start up my iMac 2019 with Seqoiua 15.6.1, I have no password lock. In other words, my main screen appears with no need to sign in. I'm baffled as to what I have done. If I use search I can still find the passwords, but before I literally went into system Settings and then into Passwords. That function has now disappeared.

Perhaps someone with a deeper understanding could enlighten me, so I can reset it to the way it was before. Here is a screen shot where I have attempted to show where passwords used to be and now with no visible means of accessing it.



[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: Passwords in system settings

Posted on Sep 1, 2025 09:04 AM

Reply
3 replies

Sep 1, 2025 10:32 AM in response to Vdubbman

Vdubbman wrote:

Hello all, I was recently in System Settings and inadvertently clicked on a X at the top of 'passwords'. Visible Access to my passwords immediately disappeared and now, when I start up my iMac 2019 with Seqoiua 15.6.1, I have no password lock. In other words, my main screen appears with no need to sign in. I'm baffled as to what I have done. If I use search I can still find the passwords, but before I literally went into system Settings and then into Passwords. That function has now disappeared.
Perhaps someone with a deeper understanding could enlighten me, so I can reset it to the way it was before. Here is a screen shot where I have attempted to show where passwords used to be and now with no visible means of accessing it.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/82e66f3b-4ffb-4936-9848-5754ad149be2


[Edited by Moderator]
Original Title: Passwords in system settings


from the Spotlight search...


open your Passwords.app(?)





From your Application folder you can drag the password.app to the Finder window for easy access...



Sep 2, 2025 09:49 AM in response to Vdubbman

Vdubbman wrote:

Thank you yes, thats fine, I know about the app. I have it on the screen pop ups. What I am trying to understand is what has changed. In System Settings, it shows that I have a Login password set up for Start Up, for opening the screen, but when I start up the Mac, there is no User security lock


You can verify a bit did not get flipped here:


Disappearing passwords in system settings on iMac 2019

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