As Mac users, we’ve all experienced moments of frustration when faced with a forgotten admin password. Whether it’s due to a long absence from your computer or simply a memory lapse, being locked out of your admin account can be disconcerting. However, fear not, as this blog will guide you through various methods to regain access to your Mac when you’ve forgotten the admin password. Remember, these methods should be used responsibly and only on Macs you own or have the right to access.
Part 1: Forgot the Mac Admin Password
Regain access now! Discover how to reset your forgotten admin password Mac in minutes.
Relax and Check for Typing Errors
Before diving into complex solutions, take a deep breath and make sure there are no typing errors in the password. Passwords are case-sensitive, so ensure that you’re using the correct capitalization. Try retyping the password slowly to avoid mistakes. If you have a complex password with special characters, ensure your keyboard layout is correct.
Use Your Apple ID to Reset the Password
If your Mac is running macOS Sierra or later, and you’ve associated your Apple ID with your user account, you can reset your admin password with these steps: On the login screen, enter any wrong password three times. You’ll see a prompt saying “If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID.” Click on the arrow or “Reset Password” button. Follow the instructions to reset your admin password using your Apple ID.
Reset Admin Password with Recovery Mode
If you haven’t linked your Apple ID to your user account or the above method doesn’t work, you can use Recovery Mode to reset your admin password:
Turn off your Mac and then turn it on while holding down the Command (⌘) and R keys simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. From the Utilities menu, select “Terminal.” In the Terminal window, type “reset password” (without quotes) and press Enter. A “Reset Password” window will pop up. Choose your main hard drive, select your admin user account, and enter a new password. Click “Save” to set the new password. Restart your Mac, and you should be able to log in with the new admin password.
Use Another Admin Account
If your Mac has multiple admin accounts, you’re in luck. You can use another admin account to reset the password for the account you’re locked out of:
Log in to your Mac using the other admin account. Go to “System Preferences” > “Users & Groups.” Select the locked admin account from the list on the left. Click the “Reset Password” button, and follow the instructions to set a new password.
Create a New Admin Account (Advanced Method)
If you don’t have another admin account, you can create a new one using the command-line interface in Recovery Mode:
Boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R) as explained earlier. From the Utilities menu, select “Terminal.” Type the following command: “reset password” (without quotes) and press Enter. In the “Reset Password” window, select your main hard drive and the locked admin account. Enter a new password and click “Save.”
Now, instead of restarting, type “reboot” (without quotes) in the Terminal to reboot your Mac. Once your Mac restarts, log in with the newly created admin account. Go to “System Preferences” > “Users & Groups.” Select the locked admin account and click the “Reset Password” button to set a new password.
Part 2: Reset the Password Using Apple ID or Another Admin Account
I can provide you with general steps on how to reset the password using Apple ID or another admin account on a Mac. Please note that these steps are accurate as of my last update in September 2021, and there might have been changes in the macOS or Apple’s security procedures since then. Make sure you have a backup of your important data before attempting any password reset procedures.
Method 1: Reset Password using Apple ID (macOS Catalina and later)
On your Mac, try entering the wrong password multiple times until you see the message “If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID.” Click on the “Arrow” or “Reset Password” button. Enter your Apple ID credentials (Apple ID email and password) and click “Reset Password.” Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new password for your user account.
Method 2: Reset Password using Another Admin Account
Log in to your Mac using an administrator account. Go to “System Preferences” from the Apple menu () and click on “Users & Groups.” Click on the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter the administrator username and password. In the left sidebar, select the user account for which you want to reset the password. Click on the “Reset Password” button. Enter the new password and a password hint (optional). Click “Change Password.” Close “System Preferences” and restart your Mac.
If you don’t have access to an administrator account and you don’t remember your Apple ID password, the process might be more complicated. In such cases, you might need to use the macOS Recovery mode to reset your password or contact Apple Support for assistance. Remember, it’s important to keep your Apple ID and Mac administrator passwords secure and memorable to avoid any inconvenience or potential security risks.
Part 3: Taking Control of the Keychain When Resetting Admin Password
Taking control of the Keychain when resetting the admin password involves regaining access to the encrypted passwords stored in the Keychain after you have reset the admin password. This process can be a bit more involved and requires some additional steps. Please note that the following instructions are based on macOS as of my last update in September 2021, and there might have been changes or improvements in macOS security since then.
Before proceeding, it’s important to understand that the Keychain is designed to be secure, and the passwords stored in it are encrypted using the user’s login password. When you reset the admin password, the original Keychain becomes inaccessible because the encryption key is lost. Here’s how you can attempt to regain access to the Keychain:
Step 1: Reset the Admin Password through macOS Recovery Mode:
Follow the steps outlined in “Method 2: Reset Password using Another Admin Account” from my previous response to reset the admin password using macOS Recovery Mode.
Step 2: Access the Old Keychain:
After resetting the admin password, log in with the new admin password. When you log in, the system will create a new, empty Keychain associated with the new password. However, the old Keychain, which is still encrypted with the previous password, is still on the system.
Step 3: Copy the Old Keychain Files:
Open Finder, and go to the “Utilities” folder inside the “Applications” folder. Launch “Keychain Access.” In Keychain Access, go to the “File” menu and select “Add Keychain…” (Alternatively, you can right-click on the “login” keychain and choose “Copy keychain ‘login’.”) Browse to the following location: “/Users/YourUsername/Library/Keychains/” (replace “YourUsername” with the name of your user account). Select the “login. keychain” file (this is your old Keychain), and click “Add.” You’ll be prompted to enter your old admin password (the one you reset). Enter it if you remember it; otherwise, click “Cancel.”
Step 4: Access the Old Keychain Data:
Now that you’ve added the old Keychain, you can try accessing its data: In Keychain Access, on the left-hand side, under “Keychains,” you should see the old “login” Keychain. Click on the old “login” Keychain to see the items (passwords, certificates, etc.) stored within it. Double-click on an item to view its details. If you can access the item without being prompted for the old password, you’re in luck, and the item is accessible with the new password.
Step 5: Re-save Passwords to the New Keychain (Optional):
If you can’t access an item in the old Keychain without the old password, you may need to re-save passwords manually into the new Keychain using the updated password. This process can be time-consuming and might require you to re-enter passwords for various services that use Keychain.
Please note that the success of accessing the old Keychain data without the original password is not guaranteed. If you don’t have the old password or if the Keychain data is not accessible after adding the old Keychain, the encryption might be too strong to be bypassed. In such cases, you may need to recreate your credentials manually for the services that rely on Keychain data.
Always be cautious when attempting to access or modify Keychain data, as it contains sensitive information. If you’re uncertain about the process or encounter any issues, consider seeking assistance from an experienced Mac technician or Apple Support.
Part 4: Built-In Features to Reset Your Admin Password
As of my last update in September 2021, macOS includes a built-in feature to reset your admin password using macOS Recovery Mode. This method allows you to reset the password without the need for additional tools or software. Please note that the exact steps may vary slightly depending on the macOS version you are using, but the general process remains the same. Here’s how you can reset your admin password using macOS Recovery Mode:
- Boot into macOS Recovery Mode:
Restart your Mac, and as soon as you hear the startup chime, hold down the Command (⌘) and R keys simultaneously. Keep holding the keys until the Apple logo or a spinning globe appears. This indicates that your Mac is starting up in Recovery Mode.
- Select Terminal from the Utilities menu:
In macOS Recovery, you’ll see a window with options like “Restore from Time Machine Backup,” “Reinstall macOS,” etc. From the top menu, click on “Utilities,” and then select “Terminal.” This will open the Terminal application.
- Determine the User Account:
In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:ls /Volumes
Look for the name of your Mac’s main hard drive (usually “Macintosh HD” unless you renamed it). Take note of its name; you’ll need it in the next step.
- Reset the Password:
In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter, replacing “USERNAME” and “DRIVE” with the appropriate values: resetpassword
For example, if the username is “John” and the drive name is “Macintosh HD,” the command will be: resetpassword John /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/
- Reset the Password:
A “Reset Password” window will appear, listing all user accounts on your Mac. Select the admin account for which you want to reset the password.
- Set a New Password:
Enter the new password for the selected admin account. You can also add a password hint to help remember it. Reset the Password: Click the “Reset Password” button to apply the changes.
- Restart your Mac:
Close the “Reset Password” window, go to the Apple menu (), and select “Restart.” After your Mac restarts, you can log in using the new password you just set for the administrator account. Keep the new password secure and memorable.
This method is an official way provided by Apple to reset your admin password when you have physical access to the Mac. If you encounter any issues or are unable to reset the password using this method, it’s recommended to contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Conclusion
While forgetting your admin password on Mac can be unnerving, there are multiple methods to regain access to your account. Using your Apple ID, Recovery Mode, or creating a new admin account are all viable options depending on your Mac’s configuration. Always remember to keep your password secure, but now you have the know-how to recover your account if you ever find yourself locked out. If all else fails, you can contact Apple Support for further assistance. Happy computing!
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