Using the same password for your email, bank account, and social media is a massive security risk. If one website suffers a data breach, hackers will immediately try that same password on every other major platform. You should be using complex, unique passwords (like Xq9$bL2!mPz) for every single account. While remembering dozens of these passwords is impossible for a human, it is effortless if you use a password manager. Fortunately, if you own a Mac, Apple has built a highly secure password manager directly into macOS.
How to Access the macOS Password Manager
Apple’s password manager is deeply integrated into the operating system and is secured by the exact same encryption used to protect your Mac’s hard drive.
- Click the Apple Logo in the top left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
- In the left sidebar, scroll down and click on Passwords.
- Your Mac will immediately demand authentication before showing you anything. You must enter your Mac user password or scan your fingerprint using the Touch ID sensor on your keyboard.
Viewing and Managing Your Passwords
Once authenticated, you will see a list of every website and app you have saved credentials for.
- Searching: Use the search bar at the top to quickly find a specific website (e.g., “Netflix”).
- Revealing Passwords: Click on any entry in the list. The password will initially be hidden by black dots. Hover your mouse over the dots to reveal the actual text, allowing you to copy it.
- Security Recommendations: The password manager constantly audits your security. If you see a small yellow triangle icon next to a website, click it. macOS will warn you if that specific password has appeared in a known data leak, or if you are reusing that password across too many sites.
Generating Strong Passwords in Safari
The true power of the built-in password manager is its seamless integration with the Safari web browser. You rarely need to open System Settings to use it.
When you sign up for a new account on a website using Safari, simply click inside the “New Password” text box. Safari will automatically present a dropdown menu suggesting a highly complex, 20-character password. Click Use Strong Password.
Safari will automatically save this new credential into your System Settings. The next time you visit that website, Safari will recognize the login page and offer to autofill the username and password for you, usually requiring a quick Touch ID scan to confirm your identity.
Securely Sharing Passwords via AirDrop
If you need to share the Wi-Fi password with a friend or the Netflix login with a family member, do not send it in a standard text message.
Open the Passwords menu in System Settings, locate the credential, and click the Share icon (a square with an upward arrow). You can use AirDrop to securely beam the encrypted password directly into the built-in password manager of their iPhone or Mac.