When an application program needs access to your locked keychain, a dialog box appears asking you to enter your keychain password. After you enter the password, the keychain unlocks and allows programs to access the keychain items.

You can lock or unlock your keychain using the Keychain Access control panel.

Open the Keychain Access control panel for me.

To unlock your keychain:

•	Click the unlock button in the keychain window.
	Tip: You can unlock your keychain in the Finder by double-clicking your keychain file.

When a keychain is unlocked, any program can add, remove, or retrieve keychain items.

IMPORTANT: When your keychain is unlocked, any person using your computer can open applications using the passwords or other items on your keychain. (They cannot, however, see the passwords on your keychain unless they know your keychain password.)

To lock your keychain:

•	Click the lock button in the keychain window.
	Tip: You can also set the keychain to lock automatically after a period of inactivity.

Related topic

Storing passwords and certificates on a keychain