How do I access my password-protected TurboTax Desktop file if I forget the password?

You can password-protect your tax files in TurboTax for both Windows and Mac computers. If you forget the password, here are a few ways you can try to recover access to your file.

PC

Select Forgot Password in the password request window to answer your security question. That will get you back in. Once you're back in, select Password from the File menu if you want to update or remove your password.

Mac not using Keychain

If you haven't given TurboTax Keychain access, you can select Forgot Password in the password request window to answer your security question. That will get you back in. Once you're back in, select Password Encrypt from the File menu if you want to update or remove your password.

Mac using Keychain

In some rare cases if you've given Keychain access to TurboTax, you can go to Applications > Other > Keychain access > Keychains > Login > Category > Passwords, then find Intuit or TurboTax. Right-click Get Info > Attributes > Show Password.

You will be prompted for your Mac password and it'll show you the password you used to encrypt your TurboTax file. This is may not work for all users.

Disclaimer

Password protection of TurboTax Desktop files is set by the user. TurboTax can't help unlock the file or remove the encryption. If these steps don't help, you'll need to start over in a new file.