I think it's safe to say we've all forgotten onepasswordat a given moment. For online accounts, you can simply click a few links, enter your email address, and then reset your password. But what happens if you forget the password to log in to yourMac? After trying the password you thought was correct and then trying again, it's only natural to panic. Do not. Instead, take a deep breath. You are not permanently locked out.AppelKnow that a forgotten password can be a personal hell, especially if you're working on a deadline. Because of the,MacOSincludes a tool for just this scenario.
There are a few different methods you can use, and the path you take to unlock your Mac without a password may depend on themwhether you have linked your Apple ID to your user accounton your Mac during installation or if you have one of the new versionsM1 Mac's. If you haven't linked your Apple ID, that's no problem. There is another option to reset your account password. Here's how to get started on regaining control of your Mac computer.
Use your Apple ID to reset your Mac's password
Ideally, during the initial setup, you linked your Apple ID to your user account on your Mac so that you can reset your user password with just a few clicks.
After you enter the wrong user password three times, you will be asked if you want to restart your computer to view the password recovery options. Once it restarts, you will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID, select the user account you want to reset the password for, and then enter a new password for the user account.
Use a different administrator account to unlock your Mac
If you share your Mac with friends or family members and they forgot their password, chances are you can reset it for them. The key here is that you need access to an administrator user account.
Normally the person who first set up the Mac will have an administrator account by default, but you can check this by logging into your account andSystem preferences>Users and groupsand view the list of user accounts on your Mac. Just below the username is the account type. If it says 'Admin' you can reset user passwords.
To do this, from the sameUsers and groupsscreen, click the lock icon and enter your administrator name and password when prompted. Then select the user you want to reset the password for and then click the button labeledreset Passwordand follow the instructions.
Recovery mode is the next best bet
If none of these methods work, start your Mac in recovery mode to access the password reset tool. I've found that the easiest way to do this is to first shut down your Mac completely.
From there, the process of entering recovery mode depends on the type of Mac you have. For Macs with an Intel processor, press and holdCommandoInRkeys on your keyboard and then press the power button. DelayCommando+Runtil you see a status bar appear below the Apple logo. You can also enter recovery mode by restarting your Mac and trying to time the keyboard combinationCommando+R, but in my experience, starting with your Mac turned off is the most reliable method.
ForMacbook Air, MacBook Pro en Mac Minithat uses Apple's M1 processor, turn off the computer and then press and hold the power button until you see a settings button. Click on it and then selectRepair. (We still have onethorough review of recovery modeop M1 Macs.)
While your Mac is now in recovery mode, clickUtilitiesin the menu bar, followed byTerminal.A new window will appear waiting for you to enter a command. Type "reset Password" as one word, without quotes, and pressyield.
Close the terminal window where you will find the Password Reset tool. Follow the instructions, which include signing in with your Apple ID and then selecting the user account for which you want to change the password.
If FileVault is enabled on your Mac, you'll still be fine
FileVault is an optional MacOS feature that encrypts your Mac's hard drive and all data stored on it. It is typically enabled during the initial installation, but you can also enable it at a later time in System Preferences.
If FileVault is enabled, you have two additional options to reset your user password. You can wait up to a minute at the user login screen until a prompt appears asking you to press the power button to restart your Mac in recovery mode. Follow the instructions to restart your computer and you should see a Reset Password window.
The other option is to use the recovery key that you should have noted down when you enabled FileVault. Let's face it: most of us don't do that, but if you have, after three failed login attempts you can enter the recovery key when prompted. Make sure you use capital letters and enter hyphens; these are mandatory.
Each method we've described is an effective way to regain access to your account or if your child has forgotten the password. Of course, if you can use this to access your Mac, so can anyone else who has access to your computer. You can prevent it from happening, you just have to do itmore proactive during installationmetsave recovery keys and remember your password.How to Lock Your Mac.
