Drıftstack docs
Docs

App can’t use the computer’s secure storage (setup wizard every launch, key not saved)

You might be here because: “the setup wizard appears every time I open the app” · “authorized, but the API key couldn’t be saved” · “couldn’t save settings, check secure storage” · “app forgets my sign-in after restart” · “check system credential access” · “keychain prompt when opening driftstack” · “have to log in every time”

Short answer

The app keeps your sign-in credential in the computer’s secure credential store (on a Mac, the Keychain), never in a plain file. If that store refuses the app, the credential can’t be saved, so the next launch looks like a first run. Allow Driftstack to use the credential store, then sign in again.

Check first

  • Did a system prompt asking to allow Driftstack access to the credential store appear? Choose “Always allow”.
  • Is the app running from a modified or quarantined copy? The official build, installed in Applications, is the supported one.
  • Did you delete the app’s keychain entry manually? That intentionally triggers the wizard.

Likely causes and fixes

  1. “Authorized, but the API key couldn’t be saved. Check system credential access and try again.” Browser sign-in worked; the save was refused. Fix access, then click Sign in with browser again — a new key is created.
  2. “Couldn’t save settings — Check that Driftstack is allowed to use your computer’s secure storage, then try again.” Same cause when saving from Settings.
  3. Wizard on every launch. The credential never persisted. Reinstall the official build if your copy was modified or quarantined, then sign in once more.
  4. Only the server address is remembered. That’s expected: the base URL lives in the app’s settings file, the credential in secure storage.

If it still fails

Press Talk to a person in this chat (or open Help) and include the app version, the operating system version, and the exact sentence. Each browser sign-in that fails to save still created a key on your account; you can revoke unused keys in the web dashboard. Nothing here needs a person.