Quick Answer: Keychain popups in Canary Mail appear when you switch between different versions of the app - such as from the beta version to the App Store version.
To fix it:
- Enter your Mac login password
- Click Always Allow on each popup.
Why Does Canary Mail Show Keychain Popups?
macOS uses the Keychain to securely store and manage passwords and credentials for apps. When Canary Mail switches between app versions (for example, from the beta build to the App Store build), macOS treats the new version as a different app requesting access to those stored credentials.
This triggers one or more keychain access popups asking you to authorize Canary Mail to use the data it stored previously.
This is expected macOS behavior - it is not a bug in Canary Mail.
How to Fix Keychain Popups in Canary Mail
When the keychain popup appears, follow these two steps:
Step 1 - Enter the password you use to log in to your Mac (your macOS login password).
ℹ️ Make sure you are entering your Mac login password, not your email account password.
Step 2 - Click Always Allow on every popup that appears.
Clicking "Always Allow" tells macOS to permanently grant Canary Mail access to those keychain items, so the popup will not appear again for that version.
ℹ️ You may see multiple popups per account. It is a good idea to copy your Mac login password first and paste it each time a popup appears - this saves time and avoids typing errors.
Still Seeing Popups After Clicking Always Allow?
If the popups keep returning even after you clicked "Always Allow," there may be corrupted or leftover keychain entries from an older version of Canary Mail. In that case, you can clear those entries manually.
Follow the steps in this guide: How to Completely Delete Keychain Items on Your macOS Device
After clearing the keychain items, re-open Canary Mail and log back in to your accounts.
What to Do Next:
If the keychain popups are resolved, your accounts should load normally in Canary Mail.
- Still facing login or account issues? Visit the Canary Mail Troubleshooting Help Center
- Need help setting up accounts on macOS? See Getting Started: Adding Accounts on macOS
- For all macOS-specific guides See macOS Help section
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Canary Mail keep asking for my keychain password?
This usually happens after switching between Canary Mail versions - for example, from the beta version to the App Store version. Click "Always Allow" on each popup and enter your Mac login password to stop them from reappearing.
Is it safe to click "Always Allow" on the keychain popup?
Yes. Clicking "Always Allow" simply grants Canary Mail permission to access the keychain entries it created. This is the correct and recommended action.
What password do I enter in the keychain popup?
Enter your macOS login password - the same one you use to log in to your Mac. This is not your email account password.
What if clicking "Always Allow" does not stop the popups?
There may be leftover keychain entries from an older version of Canary Mail. Follow the steps in the keychain deletion guide to clear them, then reopen Canary Mail.