What’s a Keychain?
Keychains contain login information such as account names and passwords in a secure, encrypted form for apps, websites, services, and other virtual places you visit on your computer. When you set up Apple Mail or another email service, iCloud Keychain prompts you to save your login name and password. This information is stored securely in a keychain on your Apple device, as well as in iCloud, if you enable it in the Mac System Preferences. If you forget your email password, you can recover it from Keychain on your Mac or an iOS device.
How to Find the Keychain Access Utility
Locate the Keychain Access utility on your Mac at Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access.
Locate a Password in Keychain Access Utility
Finding a forgotten password in Keychain is relatively simple.
Locate a Stored Password in the Safari App
There’s a simpler way to find stored passwords using the Safari application on a Mac.
Access Email Passwords on iOS Devices
Keychain Access syncs with iCloud, so you can use it on iOS devices such as iPads and iPhones to retrieve lost passwords. It isn’t turned on by default, but you can turn it on by tapping Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Keychain and then moving the iCloud Keychain toggle switch to the On (green) position. With Keychain active, it is easy to locate forgotten passwords on your iOS devices:
