How to Fix the "Default Keyring" Password Prompt Madness in Linux Mint

Introduction: When Linux Mint Gets a Bit... Forgetful

Linux Mint is arguably the most stable and beginner-friendly distro in the Linux universe. It’s like the Toyota Corolla of operating systems — dependable, no-nonsense, and unlikely to randomly explode. Except when it does.

If you've been seeing the dreaded prompt asking you to "create a new default keyring" every time you log in — congratulations, you’ve joined an elite club of mildly irritated Linux users. Worse yet, it keeps doing it over and over, cluttering your keyring directory with dozens of mystery files.

In this guide, we’ll take a scalpel (or maybe a sledgehammer) to the problem and fix it the right way.

The Problem: Multiplying Keyrings Like Tribbles

You log in, and Linux Mint (which uses Seahorse as the keyring manager) wants you to create a new keyring — again. And again. And again. You now have 50+ keyrings, none of which you remember setting up. It’s like password Groundhog Day

The Root Cause: Broken Packages or Upgrades Gone Rogue

This usually happens when the GNOME Keyring or Seahorse has a tantrum, often due to partial upgrades or corrupted config files. It loses track of your default keyring and tries to start fresh. Every. Single. Time.

Step-by-Step Solution (No Wrench Required)

Step 1: Open the Terminal

No need to fear the terminal. It’s just a text-based way of telling your computer who’s boss.

ctrl + alt + t

Step 2: Delete All the Rogue Keyrings

This clears out the whole mess. You’ll be logged out from apps like Bitwarden or GNOME accounts, but it's a necessary spring cleaning.

rm -rf ~/.local/share/keyrings

Step 3: Reinstall Keyring-Related Packages

Sometimes it’s not you, it’s the packages. Let’s reinstall the keyring components.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --reinstall gnome-keyring gnome-keyring-pkcs11 libpam-gnome-keyring seahorse

Step 4: Open Seahorse (a.k.a. Passwords and Keys)

Launch the key manager to ensure everything's ready to behave again:

seahorse

Or find it in your apps as "Passwords and Keys."

Step 5: Log Back Into Your Accounts

You’ve wiped the keyrings, so apps that stored credentials there will need to be re-authenticated. This includes GNOME online accounts, Bitwarden, and similar.

Step 6: Reboot the System

Go ahead. Press the button. Give your system a fresh start.

Step 7: Handle the First-Time Prompt

On first reboot, you might still get the prompt — this is expected.

• Leave the password field blank

• Click Continue

This will set up an unlocked keyring that won’t pester you. Want more security? Add a password instead.

Step 8: Reboot Again to Confirm It Worked

This time you should not be asked about a default keyring. Cue the victory music.

Conclusion: No More Keyring Chaos

Hopefully, this guide helped you resolve that infuriating keyring prompt issue once and for all. Linux Mint is still one of the best distros out there — sometimes it just needs a little tough love.

Got any other quirky Linux Mint bugs or hilarious system hiccups? Share them. Misery loves company.

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FAQs

1. Will this delete saved Wi-Fi passwords?

Yes, if those were stored in the keyring. You’ll need to re-enter them.

2. Can I set a password for the keyring again later?

Absolutely. Open Seahorse → right-click the login keyring → set password.

3. Why does the prompt show up only sometimes?

Because Seahorse can be a bit inconsistent when it doesn't find a matching keyring for your login credentials.

4. Is this issue exclusive to Linux Mint?

Nope. It can happen in any GNOME-based environment, but Mint users seem to hit it more due to certain package quirks.