Apple password not working via Safari

[ChrisR]

Trying to login to my Apple ID via Safari, I had all sorts of trouble, even changed my password, but it still wouldn't work, even immediately afterwards. It has my email address saved correctly, but when I enter the password (copied from the password manager), I just get that annoying little sideways dance. However, when I try the same process with Firefox, it works fine!

Any ideas?

 

[Nikon f1.8]

I always save password for this site when the dialogue window pops up and never had a problem. Can I ask why you are copying and pasting from password manager, I have never had to do this. when I go to a site that I have registered and log in the password field is automatically filled in for me.

 

[Mozthecat]

It isn't adding a space on the end when you copy and paste is it?

 

[ChrisR]

I always save password for this site when the dialogue window pops up and never had a problem. Can I ask why you are copying and pasting from password manager, I have never had to do this. when I go to a site that I have registered and log in the password field is automatically filled in for me.

I guess it was a long time since I'd last logged in, but ISTR it did auto-fill the password (presumably from the Keychain) and that wasn't accepted. I then went to the password manager to check it, tried typing it by hand, same result. Then I changed it (which was complicated and bizarre and eventually involved my phone), so I put the new password in the password manager.

It isn't adding a space on the end when you copy and paste is it?

No, I don't think any space was added. I used the same process for both Safari and Firefox, but also hand typed the password for both.

I am on Sonoma 14.7, Safari Version 18.0 (19619.1.26.111.10, 19619) (whatever all that means).

 

[ChrisR]

Someone on the Apple Community (I logged in via Firefox) wondered whether my software was up to date, so last night I updated to Sonoma 14.7.1 and Safari 18.1. Same negative result.

Interestingly, there were several threads of similar problems from 2020 and at least one from 2022. Some people gave workarounds, others said they didn't work, and there was some consensus it was a server-side issue. But there must be more to it than that, or we'd be having some "me too" responses here!

 

[ChrisR]

So after a long chat session with Apple Support, followed by a long phone call from someone else in Ireland, including a bit of screen sharing (eeek!), we have the answer!

When you try to login to the Apple Account via Safari on a Mac, when it asks for a password, you have to enter your Mac password (though it doesn't tell you that).

When you try to login to the Apple Account via Firefox on a Mac, when it asks for a password, you have to enter your Apple Account password (though it doesn't tell you that). (There are some subtly different elements to the transaction which I can now recognise, but did not seem to be an issue at the time.)

Maybe everyone else on the whole darn world knew this, but heck, Apple, that is one seriously terrible bit of user interface design!

But thank you Apple Support for explaining it patiently and clearly!

 

[Eucris]

So after a long chat session with Apple Support, followed by a long phone call from someone else in Ireland, including a bit of screen sharing (eeek!), we have the answer!

When you try to login to the Apple Account via Safari on a Mac, when it asks for a password, you have to enter your Mac password (though it doesn't tell you that).

When you try to login to the Apple Account via Firefox on a Mac, when it asks for a password, you have to enter your Apple Account password (though it doesn't tell you that). (There are some subtly different elements to the transaction which I can now recognise, but did not seem to be an issue at the time.)

Maybe everyone else on the whole darn world knew this, but heck, Apple, that is one seriously terrible bit of user interface design!

But thank you Apple Support for explaining it patiently and clearly!

You can change the password so you don't have to use your Mac password.

 

[ChrisR]

You can change the password so you don't have to use your Mac password.

The Mac would still know my new Account Password, AIUI... So after the first time, I'd have to use the Mac pw again.

 

[Eucris]

The Mac would still know my new Account Password, AIUI... So after the first time, I'd have to use the Mac pw again.

I do NOT use my Mac password to log-in to Apple ID on Safari.

 

[ChrisR]

I do NOT use my Mac password to log-in to Apple ID on Safari.

That's interesting! Is that with current OS versions?

 

[Eucris]

That's interesting! Is that with current OS versions?

The OS is Sonoma. The MacBook is a couple of years old so if that makes a difference or not I don't know. But all I did was save the password into the Safari password manager.

 

[ChrisR]

The OS is Sonoma. The MacBook is a couple of years old so if that makes a difference or not I don't know. But all I did was save the password into the Safari password manager.

Weird, sounds about the same vintage (mine a Mq MacBook), and I also had the Apple Account password saved in Safari's password manager. But I don't go into the Account often. and when I tried recently I was asked for a password. It appeared one was being pre-loaded (presumably from Safari's saved passwords) but wasn't accepted. That's when this whole saga started, changing the Account password, trying Firefox, etc.

If I login to the Apple Account from my iPhone, it asks for a Touch Id and then I'm in. The guy was adamant it works the same way on a Mac from Safari, as above (but Mac password instead of Touch Id in my case, as the latter is not set up on my Mac).