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Participant
Apr 14, 2020 10:52 AM UTC
Answered

Mail.app wants to sign using key "privatekey" in your keychain

I wanted to sign a document using the sign/signature tool but for whatever reason, I ended creating a digital signature by mistake now I can't send the email without attaching a private key. I needed to remove this ASAP. 

 

Adobe Reader doesn't allow me to remove the certificate. i.e clicking on the "Remove Id" does nothing.

 

 

SOLUTION:

 

1. Open Keychain on your mac "search 'keychain' in Spotlight (The magnifying glass icon on the top right of your screen) or Go to >Applications>Utilities>Keychain.app

2. Find the culprit certificate in the list

3. Take a back of the key in case something goes wrong by exporting the certificate.

4. >>> Delete

5. Restart the Mail app and also the Adobe Reader app.

 

Sorted 🙂  

Jelle5C10Correct answer
Participant
Jul 26, 2021 12:39 PM UTC

Hi,

When you open a new email, you can simply deactivate this digital encrypted signing by clicking on the little blue encircled checkmark in the new mail editor window. If you do this, it will stay unchecked for all subsequent emails. So no need to manually delete digital certificates from the keychain.

(I'm on Big Sur 11.1).

47 replies

Participant
Oct 8, 2022 6:34 PM UTC

Delete is not working for me! !@#$%^&* Please help!

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Participant
Jan 4, 2023 11:17 AM UTC

Same for me

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Jelle5C10Correct answer
Participant
Jul 26, 2021 12:39 PM UTC

Hi,

When you open a new email, you can simply deactivate this digital encrypted signing by clicking on the little blue encircled checkmark in the new mail editor window. If you do this, it will stay unchecked for all subsequent emails. So no need to manually delete digital certificates from the keychain.

(I'm on Big Sur 11.1).

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Participant
Nov 11, 2021 4:29 AM UTC

Thank you Jelle5C10, simple and elegant.  I somehow created a monster without intending to, and all attempts to send some urgent documents failed until I found your solution.  Phew! (I am on Monterey 12.0.1).  Please accept a large virtual bouquet of flowers 💐

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Participant
Mar 31, 2021 10:11 PM UTC

This worked a treat!  Thank you 😄

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Participant
Sep 30, 2020 2:48 PM UTC

So which key chain is the culprit?  

I've deleted a bunch of them and none of them have the effect.

I really must remove the request to type in my password for each email --it's absurd!

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Participant
Dec 18, 2020 12:49 AM UTC

Hi @Lonna5CD0 did you get this resolved.  I am having the exact same issue - it's so annoying.  Trying to solve it.  Any insights would be great.

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Participant
Feb 6, 2021 10:51 AM UTC

Hey,

Did you resolve this issue. I have the same problem. I also looked under 'My Certificates' but it was empty. Its so frustrating, I cant send any mail. Thanks! 

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