Passcodes: Help: What's the difference between local PC and iCloud PC? How to coordinate? OS 11.7.10
visard229
User level: Level 1 (13 points)
User level: Level 1 (13 points)passcode confusion
Posted on Oct 28, 2026 7:40 AM
7 replies
sberman
User level: Level 10 (280,982 points)
User level: Level 10 (280,982 points)Oct 28, 2026 3:27 PM in response to visard229
Given your posts’s title, I am guessing “local PC” means the password used to log on to your Mac, and “iCloud PC” actually means your Apple Account password.
(Mac)OS 11.7, which was macOS Big Sur, was released by Apple four years ago. The latest version of macOS Big Sur is 11.7.11.
Perhaps these will help.
If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support
Sign in to or out of your Apple Account on Mac - Apple Support
Phil0124
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)Oct 29, 2026 8:33 AM in response to visard229
Ahh, I see.
The Mac Login password is the one used to access the actual computer when you turn it on.
The Apple Account password is another password, and while they can be the same, if you set them up to be they don't have to be the same and are not connected in any way. The Apple Account password is what you use to log in to Apple services and websites or what you use to make downloads and purchases in iTunes and App Stores.
The iCloud password, unless you have a completely separate account to the Apple Account used for the iTunes and App Stores, should be the same password as it's the same account. In other words, the iCloud account and the Apple Account are in most cases one and the same and as such their passwords are the same password.
Phil0124
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)
User level: Level 10 (242,520 points)Oct 28, 2026 8:50 AM in response to visard229
Hello,
Sorry, it is not clear what you are referring to.
There's no such thing as an iCloud PC.
Where exactly are you seeing this?
What is the confusion?
what are you trying to do?
visard229
User level: Level 1 (13 points)
User level: Level 1 (13 points)Oct 29, 2026 8:05 AM in response to Phil0124
Sorry for the confusion Phil124. I haven't been sleeping well. I'm talking about passwords here not passcodes, (PC).
The point was, I'm unsure about the kind of passwords required and I wanted to see if there was a way to simplify the security demands. I think I understand that there is a Mac password, the machine, an Apple password, and an iCloud password (?). Is this right? and couldn't they all be the same? BTW: my OS is 10.13.6
Thanks for your time and attention,
Ed
visard229
User level: Level 1 (13 points)
User level: Level 1 (13 points)Oct 29, 2026 8:30 AM in response to sberman
Yes, you did interpret my message correctly. See my note below and thanks for your help.
visard229
User level: Level 1 (13 points)
User level: Level 1 (13 points)Oct 29, 2026 9:04 AM in response to Phil0124
Thanks, this confirms my understanding. And the keychain 'local items' password needed for iCloud would be the same as the Mac Login, (machine) surprisingly.
sberman
User level: Level 10 (280,982 points)
User level: Level 10 (280,982 points)Oct 29, 2026 1:15 PM in response to visard229
Glad it’s all cleared up.
Enjoy your Apple gear.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256384617