Solved: How to Stop Repeated macOS Notifications of Approve “[name]’s iPhone” / “[name]’s MacBook Pro”?

Learn how to stop repeated macOS notifications of approve “[name]’s iPhone” / “[name]’s MacBook Pro” that may occur after updating your devices to the latest software versions.

Problem

If you have updated your iPhone or MacBook Pro to the latest software versions, you may encounter a problem where you get repeated macOS notifications asking you to approve your other devices. This can be annoying and confusing, especially if you have already approved your devices before. In this article, we will explain why this problem occurs and how to fix it.

What causes repeated macOS notifications of approve “[name]’s iPhone” / “[name]’s MacBook Pro”?

The most likely cause of this problem is iCloud Keychain, a feature that syncs your passwords, credit cards, and other secure information across your devices. iCloud Keychain uses end-to-end encryption, which means that only you can access your data with a key derived from your device passcode and your iCloud account.

When you update your device to a new software version, iCloud Keychain may require you to re-approve your other devices to ensure that they have the same key and can access your data. However, sometimes this process may not work properly and you may get stuck in a loop of notifications that never go away.

How to fix repeated macOS notifications of approve “[name]’s iPhone” / “[name]’s MacBook Pro”?

There are several possible solutions to fix this problem, depending on your situation. Here are some steps that you can try:

Solution 1: Approve your devices from another device

If you have another device that is signed in to iCloud and has iCloud Keychain enabled, you can try to approve your devices from there. For example, if you get the notification on your MacBook Pro, you can use your iPhone to approve it. Here’s how:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security > iCloud Keychain and make sure it is turned on.
2. On your MacBook Pro, click the notification and enter your device passcode when prompted.
3. On your iPhone, you should see a pop-up message asking you to allow or deny the request from your MacBook Pro. Tap Allow and enter your Apple ID password when asked.
4. Your MacBook Pro should now be approved and the notification should disappear.

Solution 2: Turn off and on iCloud Keychain

If you don’t have another device to approve your devices from, or if the previous solution didn’t work, you can try to turn off and on iCloud Keychain on your devices. This may reset the keychain and resolve the issue. Here’s how:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Keychain and turn it off. You may be asked to keep or delete your keychain data on your device. Choose Keep.
2. On your MacBook Pro, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Keychain and turn it off. You may be asked to keep or delete your keychain data on your device. Choose Keep.
3. Wait for a few minutes and then turn on iCloud Keychain on both devices. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password and your device passcode. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
4. Your devices should now be synced and the notification should stop.

Solution 3: Reset your end-to-end encrypted data

If none of the above solutions worked, you may need to reset your end-to-end encrypted data. This will delete all your passwords, credit cards, and other secure information from iCloud and your devices, and create a new keychain. You will need to re-enter your data manually or use a backup if you have one. Here’s how:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security > iCloud Keychain and turn it off. You may be asked to keep or delete your keychain data on your device. Choose Delete.
2. On your MacBook Pro, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Keychain and turn it off. You may be asked to keep or delete your keychain data on your device. Choose Delete.
3. Wait for a few minutes and then turn on iCloud Keychain on both devices. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password and your device passcode. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.
4. Your devices should now have a new keychain and the notification should stop.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is iCloud Keychain and why should I use it?

Answer: iCloud Keychain is a feature that syncs your passwords, credit cards, and other secure information across your devices. It also helps you create and autofill strong passwords for your accounts. iCloud Keychain is convenient and secure, as it uses end-to-end encryption to protect your data.

Question: How can I view and manage my iCloud Keychain data?

Answer: You can view and manage your iCloud Keychain data on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Passwords and tap on any entry to see the details. You can also add, edit, or delete entries from there. On your Mac, go to Safari > Preferences > Passwords and click on any entry to see the details. You can also add, edit, or delete entries from there.

Question: How can I share my iCloud Keychain data with others?

Answer: Starting from iOS 15 and macOS Monterey, you can share your iCloud Keychain data with others using shared password groups. This is a feature that lets you create groups of passwords and passkeys that you can share with your family or trusted contacts. You can also control who can view, edit, or add passwords to the group. To create a shared password group, go to Settings > Passwords > Shared Password Groups on your iPhone or iPad, or Safari > Preferences > Passwords > Shared Password Groups on your Mac.

Summary

In this article, we have explained how to stop repeated macOS notifications of approve “[name]’s iPhone” / “[name]’s MacBook Pro” that may occur after updating your devices to the latest software versions. We have also discussed the possible causes and solutions of this problem, as well as some FAQs about iCloud Keychain. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not affiliated with Apple or any of the products or services mentioned in this article. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided in this article. You should always consult a qualified professional before making any decisions or taking any actions based on the information in this article. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from your use of the information in this article.