How to Fix Adobe Desktop Service Requesting macOS Keychain Password
Question details
Users need a solution to stop Adobe Desktop Service and Acrobat from constantly prompting for the macOS keychain password on startup, even when the correct password is entered.
- Product
- Adobe Desktop Service / Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- macOS Mojave / macOS Monterey
- Scenario
- Launching Adobe applications or starting up the Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe applications repeatedly request access to the Local Items keychain or System Events, and continuously reject the correct user password, trapping the user in a login loop.
Ensure you have your Mac administrator password handy and consider backing up your keychain data via the Keychain Access app before making any folder deletions.
Reset the Local Items Keychain Folder
Deleting the corrupted Local Items keychain folder forces macOS to recreate it, effectively clearing the password loop for Adobe services.
This issue is typically caused by a desynchronization or corruption within the macOS keychain directory. By removing the specific local keychain folder, macOS will automatically generate a fresh, uncorrupted version upon restarting.
Force quit Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Desktop Service, and any Creative Cloud background processes using the Activity Monitor.
Open Finder. Click 'Go' in the top menu bar, hold down the 'Option' key on your keyboard, and select 'Library' from the dropdown list.
Inside the Library folder, find and open the folder named 'Keychains'.
Look for a folder with a long, random alphanumeric name (e.g., A8F5E7B...). This is the Local Items keychain folder. Drag this folder to the Trash.
Restart your Mac. Open Adobe Acrobat or Creative Cloud, and sign in again when prompted to establish a fresh keychain connection.
Clear Adobe Entries in Keychain Access
Use the built-in macOS Keychain Access tool to specifically target and remove broken Adobe licensing tokens without resetting all local keychains.
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- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Desktop Service keep asking for my Mac password?
This usually happens when the macOS Local Items keychain becomes corrupted or desynchronized with your login password. Adobe services continuously try to read or save licensing tokens but fail, triggering an endless password prompt loop.
Will deleting the Keychains folder delete all my saved passwords?
Deleting the specific alphanumeric folder inside Keychains only resets local items. Passwords synced securely with iCloud Keychain will restore automatically, though you may need to manually sign back into certain local applications.
Can I fix the keychain prompt without deleting folders?
Yes. Sometimes, manually deleting just the 'Adobe User OS Info' entry within the Keychain Access app, or updating Adobe Creative Cloud via the official installer, can resolve the loop without requiring you to reset the entire local keychain folder.
What is the 'System Events' prompt from Adobe?
System Events is a core macOS process that allows applications to automate tasks and interact with the operating system. Adobe requests access to this to run background licensing and update checks, which can get stuck if keychain permissions are broken.
