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Mac Printing: “Hold for Authentication”

Frank Garguilo
Frank Garguilo
  • Updated

Mac Printing: “Hold for Authentication” After a Password Change

After changing your school password, your Mac may still have the old password saved for the printer. When this happens, the print job may stop and show “Hold for Authentication.”

macOS Print Center Authentication Hold pic.png

Quick Fix

  1. Open the printer queue.
    Go to System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Select the printer, then open the printer queue.
  2. Find the held print job.
    Look for the job that says “Hold for Authentication.”
  3. Retry the job.
    Click the retry, resume, or authentication button next to the print job.
  4. Enter your new school password.
    Use your school username and your current school password.
  5. Save the password.
    If you see an option such as “Remember this password in my keychain”, select it.
  6. Test printing.
    The print job should continue. Send a small test print to make sure printing is working normally.

If It Still Does Not Work

Your Mac may still have the old printer password saved in Keychain.

Keychain Cleanup

  1. Cancel the held print job.
    Remove the failed print job from the printer queue.
  2. Open Keychain Access.
    Press Command + Space, type Keychain Access, and open it.
  3. Search for the printer login.
    Search for the printer name, print server, or SMB.
  4. Delete only the old printer password.
    Remove the saved printer or network password that is using your old password. Do not delete unrelated passwords or certificates.
  5. Print again.
    Send a new test print.
  6. Enter your current username and password.
    When prompted, enter your school username and your new password. Save the password if prompted.

Troubleshooting

  • It still says “Hold for Authentication”
    Repeat the Keychain cleanup and enter your current school password again.
  • No password box appears
    Cancel the job, remove the old saved printer password from Keychain, and send a new print job.
  • More than one printer is affected
    One old saved printer password may affect several printers.
  • It still does not work
    Contact IT for assistance.

What to Tell IT

  • The name of the printer you are trying to use
  • Whether the message says “Hold for Authentication”
  • Whether you recently changed your password
  • Whether the problem happens on one printer or multiple printers