To change your master password in gnome-keyring, you need to access the "Passwords and Keys" application, locate your "Login" keyring, and follow the steps to update its password. This process ensures your stored credentials remain secure under a new master key.
Understanding Gnome Keyring Passwords
Gnome Keyring is a system service that securely stores your passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive information. The "master password" typically refers to the password of your default "Login" keyring. This keyring usually unlocks automatically when you log into your desktop environment, provided your login password matches the keyring password. Changing this master password will update the security of all items stored within that specific keyring.
Locating the Gnome Keyring Application
The primary application for managing gnome-keyring is commonly known as "Passwords and Keys" or sometimes by its internal name, "Seahorse". You can usually find it by searching in your application launcher.
How to Find "Passwords and Keys":
- Open your application launcher (e.g., by pressing the
Superkey, also known as the Windows key). - Type "Passwords and Keys" or "keyring" into the search bar.
- Click on the "Passwords and Keys" application icon to open it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Master Password
Once you have opened the "Passwords and Keys" application, follow these steps to change your master password:
- Navigate to the Main Menu: If you are not already on the main screen showing your keyrings, click the "back" button or navigate to ensure you see a list of available keyrings.
- Identify the "Login" Keyring: In the "Passwords" tab, look for an item typically named "Login". This is your default keyring where most application passwords are stored. It is usually the first item listed.
- Right-Click and Select Option: Right-click on the "Login" keyring entry.
- Choose "Change Password": From the context menu that appears, select the "Change Password" option.
- Enter Old Password: A dialog box will appear, prompting you to enter your current master password for the "Login" keyring. Type it in carefully.
- Set New Password: After successfully entering the old password, you will be prompted to enter your new master password. Choose a strong, unique password.
- Confirm New Password: Re-enter your new password to confirm it.
- Apply Changes: Click "OK" or "Change" to finalize the password update.
Example Password Management:
| Action | Old Password | New Password |
|---|---|---|
| Change Requirement | Must be correctly entered | Strong, unique, memorable |
| Security Implication | Access to old data | Secures all stored credentials |
Important Considerations
- Password Strength: Always choose a strong, unique password for your keyring. A strong password typically includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and is at least 12 characters long.
- Memorability: While strong, your new password should also be something you can remember, as you will need it to unlock your keyring if it doesn't automatically unlock at login.
- Automatic Unlocking: If you want your "Login" keyring to unlock automatically when you log into your user account, make sure its password is the same as your user account's login password. If you set a different password, you will be prompted to enter it every time you access something stored in the keyring.
- Backup: While not directly related to changing the password, it's always good practice to ensure you have backups of important data that might be linked to your keyring, such as SSH keys or GPG keys.
- Further Information: For more detailed information on Gnome Keyring and its functionalities, you can refer to the official GNOME documentation.
