Icloud On Mac Keeps Asking For Password

Have you ever experienced a strange and recurring issue with your Mac's iCloud preferences? If so, you're not alone. Many Mac users have reported encountering a popup window that asks for their iCloud password without any specific context or reason. The window is non-specific, displaying only the Apple logo, and it seems to appear randomly.

As someone who exercises caution when it comes to security, I was initially concerned about this issue. My first thought was that it might be asking me to verify my account information, but not for my own device! What could cause this message to reappear? After researching and reaching out to Apple support, I'm still unsure of the exact reason behind this phenomenon.

I recently contacted Apple support last week, and they were unfamiliar with this issue. They asked me to send an image of the popup window, but I never followed up on their instructions. The problem persists on my iOS laptop running OS X El Capitan v 10.11.6, and it's still happening despite not changing any other authenticating devices.

Interestingly, around the time this issue started occurring, I reset two iPads to their factory defaults. One of them was restored later, while the other remained at its default state until further notice. I also have dual authentication enabled on my Mac.

When you click on the popup window, it opens the iCloud preferences and displays a message that says 'iCloud Preferences wants to make changes to your account.' However, there's no specific information about what those changes might be or why they're necessary. This lack of context only adds to the concern, as it's unclear whether this is a legitimate request or some kind of security risk.

Fortunately, many other Mac users have reported experiencing similar issues with random OS X password popup windows from iCloud, FaceTime, or Messages. These windows ask for the respective iCloud password without providing any clear explanation or context.

So what can you do if you're experiencing this issue? One possible solution is to reset your Mac's System Management Controller (SMC) and Power Management Unit (PMU). You can do this by following these steps:

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Locate the power button on your Mac.

3. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.

4. Release the power button and wait for 30 seconds.

5. Restart your Mac.

This may resolve the issue, but if you're still experiencing problems, there are a few other potential solutions worth exploring:

1. Check your iCloud account settings: Make sure that your iCloud account is set up correctly and that all devices are authorized to access your account.

2. Review your device permissions: Ensure that each device has the necessary permissions to access your iCloud account.

3. Reset your Mac's SMC and PMU (as mentioned earlier).

4. Reinstall macOS or reset your Mac to its factory settings.

It's worth noting that these solutions may not work for everyone, so if you're still experiencing issues, it might be worth reaching out to Apple support again for further assistance.

In conclusion, while I'm still unsure of the exact cause behind this issue, I hope that by sharing my experience and potential solutions with others, we can better understand what's happening and find a way to resolve this recurring problem.

Icloud on mac keeps asking for password