Jul 26, 2017 Until the version 10.6, Mac OS X came on physical installation discs, and you could use the original Mac OS X install disc to reset your password. If you’re still running an older version of the Mac OS X operating system and have the installation medium at hand, admin password recovery won’t be a problem for you. Resetting Mac Password 2. Enter your Apple ID credentials and click the 'Reset Password' button. Use Recovery Mode to reset your password You'll need to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode in order to access the password reset tool. I've found the easiest way to do that is to turn off your Mac. Restart your computer. Before a restart you should log out of gmail, save your work and quit all applications. Reference - Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password.

It is known that Apple’s Mac operating system is reliable and secure. But what many of you might not know is that your system’s security relies so much on your password. With a weak password, your Mac will be vulnerable to threats. If it is the other way around, then you get to experience Mac security at its finest.

Now, if you noticed, whenever the system needs to be updated or some important files need to be deleted, you will usually be asked for your Mac’s password. However, what if you have forgotten about it? Does that mean you can no longer use your device? Does that mean you have to get yourself a new Mac? C’mon, that’s quite costly.

Relax. What if we tell you that it is possible to recover Mac password without having to spend several hundreds of dollars? In this article, we will teach you how.

Use Password Hints

Wait! Before you even think about resetting your password, you might want to play a guessing game with the help of your password hint. Remember the time when you first set up a password for your Mac? You were asked to enter a phrase or a sentence that will refresh your memory of your password.

To get a hint (literally), do the following:

1. Click on Apple > System Preferences.
2. Select Users & Groups.
3. At the bottom left corner of the window, you should see the Lock icon. Click it.
4. Press the Return button three times.

Now, every time you enter the wrong password, the screen will shake. After your third attempt, the hint will automatically appear below the Password field. Do not worry if you lost count of the wrong passwords you entered. When it comes to entering a password, the sky is the limit. You can enter as many wrong passwords until you (hopefully) remember the correct one. It’s just that the password hint only appears after your third try. If you want to try different password combinations in the hopes of remembering the correct one, in the long run, feel free to do so. After all, it’s your Mac.

In the event that a hint does not appear, that is because you did not set your system to show password hints. Sad to say, the only way to make it show is to sign in to your Mac and change your Login settings.

If you want that the password hint shows up the next time you forget your password, simply go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Options. Enter your login details and tick the Show Password Hint box.

Are you sharing your Mac with another person? Does he have his own personal account? Or is there a different account you have access to?

If your answer to any of the questions above is a yes, follow the steps below and you will be on your way to Mac password recovery:

1. At the top left portion of your screen, you should see the Apple logo. Click on it and select Log Out.
2. Click on the user account you have access to.
3. Provide the login details of that account.
4. Once you have successfully logged in, go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
5. At the bottom left portion of the window, you should find the lock icon. Click it.
6. You will be prompted to enter the password again.
7. Choose the account that you’ve forgotten the password for.
8. Click Reset Password.
9. At this point, you will be asked to input a new password, verify it, and provide a password hint.
10. Lastly, click on the Change Password button.

Congratulations! You have already changed the password for that certain account. You can now log into that account using the password you have just set.

Take note, though, that this won’t change the Keychain password. When you log into your account again, you have to update it. But since you have forgotten the old password, which will be required for the update, you need to click the Create New Keychain button.

Now, if the current user you are currently logged into is not an Admin user on your Mac, it won’t be possible to change the password. What you have to do is to use the Recovery Mode to reset the password.

How to Reset Mac Password in Recovery Mode

If you have completely forgotten about your password, the best option you have is to use your Mac’s existing tool for password replacement. Here’s how to use it:

1. Shut down your Mac. Click the Apple button and select Shut Down.
2. Press the power button on your Mac while also holding down Command + R. By doing that, your Mac should boot and it will start in Recovery mode. As soon as the load bar shows up, let go of the keys and wait for your Mac to load.
3. Open Disk Utility and click on Continue.
4. Go to Utilities > Terminal.
5. Type in “reset password” and press Return.
6. Find the particular volume that contains the account you forgot the password for. In most cases, this is your primary hard drive.
7. Click Select the User Account, and then choose the specific account you want to change the password for.
8. Input a new password and enter it into all password fields.
9. Next, provide a new password hint. Click Save.
10. A warning should appear telling you that the password has been changed, but not the Keychain Password. Simply click the OK button.
11. Click the Apple button and select Shut Down.

Great job! You have successfully changed your password. Log into your account again using the new password you just created.

Reset Your Password Using Your Apple ID

Is your Mac’s OS running in Yosemite, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, or Lion? Good news! If you forget about your password, the only things you need are your Apple ID and Internet access. Initiate the password reset procedure by following these steps:

1. On the login screen, enter a wrong password three times. The password hint box should show a message that says, “If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID.” Click the greater than (>) icon to initiate the password reset using Apple ID.
2. Enter your Apple ID credentials. These are the same details you use in logging into iCloud, iTunes, and App Store. Click the Reset Password button.
3. Input a new password and let your device boot.

Wasn’t that easy? If that does not work, you still have another option.

Recover Your Mac Password Using an Installer DVD or CD

This method is only applicable for older Mac version. Here’s what you should do:

1. If your Mac is turned off, switch it on and insert the installer CD or DVD right away. After that, hold down the C key to allow your Mac to boot.
2. Under the Utilities menu, select Reset Password.
3. At this point, you will be asked to select a hard disk volume. Choose the volume where the account with the forgotten password is saved. Usually, it is in the main hard disk volume. Next, select the account. Make sure you do not go to the Root account.
4. Create a new password and click the Save button.
5. Close the Installer.
6. Restart your Mac.

1. If your Mac is turned off, switch it on and insert the installer CD or DVD right away. After that, hold down the C key to allow your Mac to boot.
2. Under the Utilities menu, select Reset Password.
3. At this point, you will be asked to select a hard disk volume. Choose the volume where the account with the forgotten password is saved. Usually, it is in the main hard disk volume. Next, select the account. Make sure you do not go to the Root account.
4. Create a new password and click the Save button.
5. Close the Installer.
6. Restart your Mac.

If all else fails, your final resort is to use the Target Disk Mode to retrieve whatever data your Mac has. Using this method, you can access your Mac’s hard drive using another Mac. Here’s how:

1. Shut down your Mac by clicking the Apple button and selecting Shut Down.
2. If you have a Thunderbolt cable or a FireWire, use it to connect your Mac to another Mac.
3. Power up your Mac. As it boots, hold down the T key.
4. Your Mac should be in Target Disk mode and it will show up as another hard drive. Take advantage of this step to retrieve whatever data your Mac has.

Prevent Others from Resetting Your Password

Yes, you were able to Mac’s recovery mode to generate a new password. What if someone else does the same procedures? Will you lose total control over your Mac? Yes and no. The answer depends on whether or not you take action to protect your account.

If you want to protect your data, simply enable FileVault encryption. It should encrypt your Mac’s content and the Password Reset option will not appear until you decide to unlock it.

When you decide to set up FileVault, a Recovery Key will be provided, as well as a password. You have to print them out or write them down in a notebook because if you forget them, it will be impossible to retrieve them.

To enable FileVault, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault.

No More Excuses for a Lost Password

No matter how you forgot or lost your Mac’s admin password, there should be no excuse for you not to reset it. Sure, there are many different techniques you can use to gain full access to your Mac, but at the end of the day, the choice is yours. You can reset your password using your Apple ID, which is the simplest and fastest option. You can also remember it using the password hint.

You see, you’ve got solutions. What we want you to do is that once you finally gain access to your Mac again, make sure it is secure. Install Tweakbit MacRepair to identify potential threats or loopholes that hackers can use to get access to your device.

Do you have a unique password recovery technique for Mac that you want to share? The whole world wants to know. Comment it below!

Due to the robust security within Apple’s new macOS operating system, there is a high emphasis on data protection. Whether you’re simply logging in, downloading new software, or trying to delete files or apps from the hard drive, you will always need to input your Mac password. Here are a few ways you can remember or reset it and get back to using your Mac.

How to avoid forgetting passwords?

Often when Mac users forget their passwords, it’s the consequence of having a cluttered Mac. With an overload of information to sieve through every day, people have a tendency to forget information. So, first and foremost, you should clean up your Mac to make sure your new password is the one entering you into a tidy and organised computer.

With CleanMyMac X, you can remove large and unwanted files, organising your digital folders and clearing your physical headspace. With its smart, one-click cleaning approach and powerful scanning, you can swiftly dispose of useless documents and apps which may even be slowing your Mac down. With CleanMyMac, you can launch a Smart Scan, removing systems junk, photo and file duplicates, and everything else that will clog up your Mac.

In addition, this amazing tool is free to download, so what are you waiting for?

How to reset a password

Get a password hint

Before resetting your password, you should always check to see if the password hint jogs your memory. The ‘hint’ is a phrase you entered relating to the password when you first set it up, and is triggered once you make 3 incorrect password attempts:

1. Open System Preferences (the app with the cog icon).
2. Select ‘Users & Groups.’
3. Click the Lock icon in the bottom left to make changes.
4. Press the Return key 3 times.

The screen will shake each time you press Return, with the third shake generating the password hint which will appear below the Password field. Hopefully this initiates a Eureka Moment making you remember the Login and brings an end to the password perils.

Sometimes though, the hint doesn’t show up. That’s because the Mac wasn’t set up to show password hints in the Login Options – only modified by logging into your Mac. Fortunately, there are an array of other solutions to finding your password.

Change password from another account

In the event that you happen to share your Mac with another person, and they have their own account, you can use their Login to reset your password. Or, if you have a different account on the Mac that you know the password to, you can recover your Mac admin password by following these steps:

1. Click on the Apple logo in the top left of the tools bar and click Log Out.
2. Select the alternative account and enter the password.
3. Open System Preferences > Users & Groups.
4. Click the Lock icon in the bottom left.
5. Enter the password again.
6. In the Sidebar, select the account with the missing password.
7. Click change password.
8. Fill in the New Password, Verify and Password Hint fields.
9. Click Change Password.

Now, the password for that account has been changed, allowing you to log in using the new password. However, this doesn’t change the password for the Keychain (macOS’s password management system), and you’ll be asked when you log into the account to update the keychain password. This requires you to enter the old forgotten password, so you’ll have to click ‘Create New Keychain’.

This introduces a further problem, because if the other user isn’t the registered Admin, they won’t be able to change the password for you. Luckily, there is an alternative solution to recovering your password.

How To Reset Password For Mac Computer

Use Recovery Mode

How To Reset Password On Mac Pc

Apple provides a tool to replace a Mac’s password through bypassing all of the previous steps. This is the best option if you don’t have a password hint, can’t log in via another account and have completely forgotten your password.

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Press the power button whilst holding Command + R.
3. The Mac will boot into Recovery Mode – when you see the load bar appear you can let go of the keys.
4. Select ‘Disk Utility’ and press Continue.
5. Go to Utilities > Terminal.
6. Enter ‘resetpassword’ and press the Return key.
7. Select the main hard drive.
8. Select the User Account (the account you’d like to change).
9. Enter a new password and create a password hint.
10. Click Save – a warning will appear that the Keychain Password hasn’t changed. Click OK.
11. Shut Down your Mac and start it up again. Now you can log in using the new password.

Protect Your Data

Due to the fact Recovery Mode provides a nifty means to resetting the Mac password, you may be wary that anyone can hack your Mac – and once someone accesses your Mac, you’ve usually lost control over it. So, it’s a good job there’s some interventions you can make to prevent this happening.

The best way to protect your data is to active FileVault encryption. This means that the Password Reset option won’t become available unless you unlock it with Disk Utility. To turn it on and set it up:

1. Choose Apple > System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
2. Click the FileVault tab.
3. Click the Lock icon, and enter Login credentials.
4. Click Turn on FileVault.

Once done, you will receive a Recovery Key and a password, which you should take note of. If you lose these, your data won’t be able to be recovered and will be lost forever.

Another effective way to protect the data on your Mac is to download tried and tested app CleanMyMac X. With automatic clean-ups and regular system monitors, your data is continuously observed and safeguarded from any piracy or hacking.

Use Target Disk Mode

If all else fails, Target Disk Mode can help you recover whatever you can from the lost Mac. Using another Mac, you can access the hard drive on the lost Mac and save any wanted data.

1. Shut down the Mac.
2. Connect to another Mac using a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable.
3. Start up your Mac and hold the T key while it loads.
4. This activates Target Disk Mode.

The hard drive from the lost Mac should now appear, allowing you to recover and save wanted data onto the new Mac.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

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