If you have configured your Ubuntu system to automatically log you into your desktop without asking for a password at the login screen (a common setup for media center PCs or home servers), you will likely run into a deeply annoying secondary prompt. The moment the desktop loads and you open a web browser like Chrome or Chromium, a popup appears demanding you “Enter password to unlock your login keyring.”
This happens because the GNOME Keyring daemon, which securely stores your saved web passwords and SSH keys, requires your login password to decrypt itself. Because you bypassed the initial login screen, the keyring never received your password to unlock. If you are building a seamless kiosk or media center and do not care about the security of locally saved browser passwords, you must completely disable this keyring password prompt.
Disabling the Keyring Prompt via Passwords and Keys
The easiest way to stop the keyring from asking for a password is to set its master password to a blank string. This removes the encryption, meaning any application can access the stored passwords instantly without prompting you.
- Open your Ubuntu application launcher (press the Super/Windows key) and type Passwords and Keys (this application is also known as Seahorse).
- Launch the “Passwords and Keys” application.
- In the left-hand sidebar, look under the “Passwords” section for an entry named Login. (It may have a small padlock icon next to it).
- Right-click on the Login keyring and select Change Password from the context menu.
- A popup will ask you for your “Old Password.” Enter your current Ubuntu user password and click Continue.
- The next popup will ask you to “Choose a new password” and “Confirm new password.”
- Leave both of these fields completely blank. Do not type anything.
- Click the Continue button.
- A stern warning box will appear, warning you that storing passwords unencrypted is highly insecure. Click the Continue button again to confirm your choice.
The next time you boot your computer and automatically log into the desktop, you can launch Google Chrome immediately. The browser will access the unencrypted keyring instantly, completely bypassing the nagging unlock prompt and providing a seamless, automated boot experience.