Password disappeared from Apple Passwords

I use Apple Passwords to save my web logins. One in particular that I use almost every day, today disappeared. It is no longer in my passwords. It was not in the deleted. I have never had a password disappear. I do utilize four different devices - 2 macs, an iPad and an iPhone. One Mac is older and cannot be updated to OS26, but all other devices are OS26.


Has anyone ever had this happen? Any thoughts as to the cause? I last logged in using the older Mac.

Posted on Dec 31, 2025 1:11 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 2, 2026 9:14 PM

Re: Password disappeared from Apple Passwords


If the password is not in the passwrds app on MacOS Tahoe 26:

For the older Mac:

Wondering if the password could be in Safari > Settings > Passwords, (or if that is where it disappeared from)


Find saved passwords and passkeys on your Mac - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"If your Mac has macOS Sequoia 15, use the Passwords app.

If your Mac has macOS Sonoma 14 or earlier,

you can find your saved passwords and passkeys in System Settings and Safari."

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 2, 2026 9:14 PM in response to Catherine Larson

Re: Password disappeared from Apple Passwords


If the password is not in the passwrds app on MacOS Tahoe 26:

For the older Mac:

Wondering if the password could be in Safari > Settings > Passwords, (or if that is where it disappeared from)


Find saved passwords and passkeys on your Mac - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"If your Mac has macOS Sequoia 15, use the Passwords app.

If your Mac has macOS Sonoma 14 or earlier,

you can find your saved passwords and passkeys in System Settings and Safari."

Jan 3, 2026 5:51 PM in response to Catherine Larson

Thank you kindly for your reply, and for sharing more info.


Re: " ... It's as if this userid and password never existed, but it is one I use almost every day,..."


✽ Apple advises: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support although, does not mention passwords.


✽ You may want to check whether that crucial account's website is allowed access to your password. For MacOS 26: Allow apps to access your keychain - Apple Support

__________________________________________

Re: "If the Passwords were not an icloud program I could have restored from backup, ..." " ... only validates my wanting redundancy for saving passwords ..."


Export passwords to another password manager on iPhone - Apple Support

says:

"You can export your passwords for websites and accounts to a CSV file ... "

(Gives a warning that the passwords are not encrypted.)


✽ We can also:

Export Safari data to another browser in Safari on Mac - Apple Support


✽ Some folks keep a small A-Z notebook on hand, where they keep up-to-date passwords. However, unless locked away safely, this also leaves the possibility of mis-use. Very handy though, if our own devices are somehow not available to us.

_______________________________________________________________________

Re: "I was curious to see if this had happened to anyone else and to maybe alert the Apple techs to a possible glich out there".


As Apple users, like yourself, we have no access to feedback sent to Apple.

Seems there are isolated cases from time to time. Causes may vary considerably.

A few examples below from searching through earlier threads in the community:


✽ Passwords in system settings has disappeared: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255876064


My passwords have disappeared from System… - Apple Community


✽ Missing passwords on both Mac and iPhone after upgrading to iOS 18

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255865571


✽ If needed: Apple's feedback website: Product Feedback - Apple

Jan 3, 2026 3:39 PM in response to brbo

Since it was a crucial account, thats what I did, so not only do I now have a new password, but I have it stored in several places! I have been using and teaching apple/mac products since the late 80's and have never seen anything like this happen. It's as if this userid and password never existed, but it is one I use almost every day, but since it needs to be a strong password, I let the password program remember it.


If the Passwords were not an icloud program I could have restored from backup, but since it is icloud, once it disappeared it was wiped from all devices. This only validates my wanting redundancy for saving passwords - especially in this day and age of needing long, strong, unique ones.


I was curious to see if this had happened to anyone else and to maybe alert the Apple techs to a possible glich out there.

Password disappeared from Apple Passwords

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