Forgotten Mac Password? How to Change or Reset Password of macOS User Account

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A password is a security code that you use to enter in your Mac / MacBook Pro or Air. Just like you set up a passcode to unlock your iPhone or iPad, you need to set up a login password on your Mac so that no stranger can access your data. But there are some occasions when you have to change your Mac admin password; in a worse situation, you forgot Mac admin password and therefore you need to reset it. In any condition, you can use this guide, which deals with two tutorials: change your Mac login password and reset Mac password if forgotten.

If you have forgotten Mac admin password you can reset Mac password using another admin account, however this should be your last choice. Before going to this, you can reset password using your Apple ID, use Reset Password assistant, and use Recovery Key.

Forgotten Mac Admin Password? How to Change or Reset Password of macOS User Account

Forgotten Mac Admin Password? How to Change or Reset Login Password of Mac / MacBook Pro / MacBook Air

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How to Change Mac Password

Changing Mac password is an easy method as long as you know your password; just change your password from Users & Groups preferences.

Step #1: Click on Apple menu (Apple logo) from the top left corner of your Mac and go to System Preferences.

Click on Apple Logo from Menu bar on Mac and Go to System Preferences

Step #2: Click on Users & Groups.

Step #3: Choose your username from the list of users.

Click On User Account of whom you want to change password on Mac

Step #4: Finally, click on Change Password button and then you need to follow instructions available on your Mac screen.

Enter Mac Old Passwords and then New Passwords and Hint

How to Reset Mac Admin Password

Users tend to forget passwords (there are so many, huh) of their Mac and iOS devices. However, in iPhone and iPad, they can use Accounts & Passwords feature to store and then use password auto-fill for apps.

Points to Ponder

  • While using the Mac keyboard, users turn on caps lock and then the trouble begins. Check the caps lock status from the password field. If you see Caps Lock symbol, your keyboard Caps Lock is turned on.
  • You can use password hint by clicking on the question mark in the password field; this might help you remember your password.
  • Try to log in your Mac without entering password; if this works, simply add a new password by following a method to change password (see above).
  • Use your Apple ID password that you use for iCloud. If you have changed that password recently and the new password is not working, you can try using the old password first. If it works, you can use the new password from then on.

How to Reset Mac Password by Apple ID

Some macOS versions allow you to use Apple ID to reset Mac login password. When you are on the login screen on your Mac, keep typing your Apple ID password until your Mac flashes a message telling you to reset password using Apple ID. Even after three attempts you don’t see that message; your account is not set up to allow resetting with Apple ID.

Step #1: Click on play icon seen next to the Apple ID message; next, you need to follow on-screen instructions to type in your Apple ID and create a new password. You will be prompted to restart your Mac once you finish the process.

Step #2: Next, you need to login with your new password.

Step #3: Here, you can decide if you want to create a new login keychain.

How to Reset Mac Password by Using Reset Password Assistant

Before you use this method, you need to make sure that FileVault must be on. You can use Reset Password assistant when FileVault is turned on.

How to know if FileVault is on or off on your Mac? Well, wait for a minute while you are at the log in screen, until a message appears telling that you can use power button on your Mac to turn off and start up again in Recovery OS. If the message doesn’t appear, your FileVault is not ON.

Step #1: First off, press and hold power button until your Mac shuts down.

Step #2: Next, you need to press the power button again to switch your Mac ON.

Step #3: When you see that Reset Password window, you can follow the on-screen instructions to create a new password.

Step #4: Once the process is complete, click Restart.

Step #5: If you had reset password using Reset Password assistant, log in to your account by using new password.

Step #6: You can then decide if you want to create a new login keychain.

How to Reset Mac Password Using Recovery Key

You can reset your Mac login password using FileVault Recovery Key; make sure FileVault is turned on.

Step #1: When you are on login screen, you need to keep typing your password until a message says that you can reset your Mac password using Recovery Key. If the message doesn’t appear after three attempts, FileFault is not ON.

Step #2: Click on play icon seen next to the message. This will change the password field to Recovery Key field on your Mac.

Step #3: You need to type your Recovery Key. You need to use uppercase characters and include the hyphens.

Step #4: Create a new password by following instructions given on screen; then, you should click Reset Password when done.

Step #5: Here, you should decide if you want to create a new login keychain.

When you fail to login with your new password after restarting your Mac, you can follow these additional steps given below:

Step #1: Restart your Mac again and then immediately hold down Command-R until an Apple logo or spinning globe appears.

Step #2: When macOS Utilities window appears on screen, select Utilities → Terminal from the menu bar.

Step #3: Type resetpassword in Terminal window, and then hit Return key to launch Reset Password assistant.

Step #4: From the three radio buttons, you need to select the middle one that says, “My password doesn’t work when logging in”.

Step #5: Finally, click Next and follow on-screen instructions for your user account.

How to Create a New Login Keychain (If necessary)

When you reset your password and log back in your account on Mac, you may find an alert that the system failed to unlock your login keychain. Not to worry as this was expected since your user account passwords and login keychain do not match here. Simply click the Create New Keychain button in that alert.

In case you don’t see above alert about your login keychain, or if you see other messages asking for your old password, you need to reset keychain manually.

Step #1: Launch Keychain Access from the Utilities folder of Applications folder on your Mac.

Step #2: From Keychain Access menu you need to select Preferences.

Step #3: Next, click Reset My Default Keychain button in the preferences window.

Step #4: Once you type in your new password, Keychain Access generates an empty login keychain with no password.

Step #5: Then, click OK to confirm.

In case Reset My Default keychain button doesn’t appear, you need to shut down the preferences window and choose the ‘login’ keychain from the left side of Keychain Access window. Next, hit the Delete key, and then click Delete References.

Step #6: Select Log Out from the Apple menu to come back to the login screen.

Step #7: Finally, use your new password to log in to your account.

Here, you will see that your account password and login keychain password match again.

That’s it!

If you are not able to reset your Mac admin password, you should contact Apple Support.

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