TL;DR
To reset your Mac password:
- After failed logins, choose to reset with your Apple ID.
- Enter your Apple ID info.
- Create a new password.
- Restart and log in.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
We rely on our devices so much that forgetting a password can feel like a disaster. When I got locked out of my Mac, I found out it’s actually pretty easy to get back in. Here are the methods that helped me get back in quickly.
How to Reset Your Mac Password
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Let me walk you through the six best ways to reset your Mac password:
1. Use Your Apple ID
If you have linked your Apple ID to your Mac account, you can reset your password easily after multiple failed login attempts. Here’s how to use your Apple ID to reset your Mac password:
- After several failed attempts to log in, you should see a message asking if you’d like to reset your password using your Apple ID.
- Click Next or Arrow icon that appears on the login screen to proceed with the Apple ID-based reset method.
- You’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID email and password. Make sure to enter them correctly, and ensure you’re connected to the internet.
- After entering your Apple ID information, you’ll be guided through a series of prompts to create a new password for your Mac account.
- Choose the user account you want to reset the password for, and click Next.
- Type your new password details, and click Next. Choose something you can remember, but that’s also strong and unique.
- Once the password reset process is complete, click Restart.
- Use the newly reset password to log into your Mac and get back to business!
Remember, this method only works if you’ve previously linked an Apple ID with your Mac account and have a stable internet connection.
2. Boot Your Mac Into Recovery Mode
Recovery Mode allows you to reset your Mac password by accessing a special set of tools available on your Mac’s startup. Here’s how to boot your Mac into recovery mode:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press and hold the power button to turn on your Mac.
- As soon as your Mac begins to restart, hold down the Command ⌘ + R keys together until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- Once your Mac has booted into Recovery Mode, you’ll see a macOS Utilities window.
- Select Terminal from the Utilities menu at the top.
- A Terminal window will appear. Type the following command and press Enter:
resetpassword
- Once your Mac restarts, you can log in using the new password you’ve just set.
- A Reset Password window will appear, listing all the user accounts linked to your Mac.
- Select the account for which you need to reset the password.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to create a new password. You’ll also be asked to enter a new password hint.
- After you’ve entered the new password, click Save. You’ll see a message indicating the password has been reset. Click OK, and restart your Mac.
3. Use a FileVault Recovery Key
If FileVault is enabled, you can use the Recovery Key you set up to reset your Mac password securely. Here’s how to reset your Mac password using a FileVault Recovery Key:
- First, make sure you’ve enabled FileVault on your Mac.
- At the login interface, input the wrong password thrice. A message will appear, inquiring if you want to reset the password using your recovery key.
- Click the arrow icon to proceed with using your Recovery Key for the reset.
- Accurately type your recovery key into the designated space and hit Next.
- Key in your new password and a hint for it, then press Next.
- A confirmation message will display, signaling your password has been successfully reset.
- Select Continue Log In and use your freshly reset password to gain entry to your Mac.
The Recovery key is case-sensitive, so enter it exactly as it was created. If you lose your recovery key or can’t use it to reset your password, you might need to contact Apple Support for further assistance.
4. Try Another Admin Account
Here’s how to try another admin account to reset your Mac password:
- Restart your Mac and log in using an account that has administrative rights.
- Once you’re logged in, go to the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings.
- In the System Settings window, click Users & Groups.
- Select the user account you want to change the password for and click the small i icon next to the username.
- In the new window, click Change Password.
- Follow the prompts to create a new password.
- Once you’ve entered and verified the new password, a confirmation message will appear, indicating the password has been successfully changed.
- Log out of the admin account and back into your personal account using the new password.
5. Enter a Single-User Mode and Use Terminal
Single-User Mode grants you root access to your system, allowing you to make low-level changes. Here’s how to use Terminal in Single-User Mode to reset your Mac password:
This method is geared towards advanced users who are comfortable with UNIX commands and understand the risks involved.
- Shut down your Mac, then turn it back on.
- As it restarts, hold down Command ⌘ + S to boot into Single-User Mode.
- You’ll see a black screen with white text, indicating you are in Single-User Mode. You’ll be given command-line access to the system.
- Before making any changes, you need to mount the root filesystem as writable. Type the following and press Enter:
mount -uw /
- Type the following and press Enter:
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist
- Type the following and press Enter:
passwd username
Here, replace username with the name of your account that you want to change the password for.
- Type your new password and press Enter.
- Retype the new password and press Enter again.
- Type the following and press Enter:
Reboot
This will successfully reset your Mac password.
6. Use Target Disk Mode
Target Disk Mode is a feature available on most Macs that allows one Mac to access the internal hard drive of another Mac, treating it like an external disk. Here’s how to reset your Mac password using the Target Disk Mode:
Be warned, though, that this method could potentially expose all files on your Mac, so it’s essential to handle it responsibly.
- Ensure both Macs have a compatible port (Thunderbolt, FireWire, or USB-C) for connecting them.
- Power off both Macs and use a compatible cable to connect them.
- Power up the Mac you want to reset while holding down the T key until you see the Target Disk Mode screen (an icon and a loading bar).
- Power up the other Mac and log in as usual.
- The drive of the Mac in Target Disk Mode should appear on the desktop of the second Mac.
- Open the drive and navigate to
/Users/[yourusername]
. - Delete the folder named Keychains. This will delete all saved passwords but will allow you to reset your user password upon the next login.
- Eject the target disk from the second Mac, then restart the Mac whose password you want to reset.
- Upon startup, macOS will detect the absence of a keychain and guide you through setting a new login password.
- Test your new password to make sure you can log in without issues.
Disclaimer: Resetting your password via methods like Target Disk Mode or Single-User Mode may expose your data to others, so make sure you trust anyone with physical access to your Mac.
Never Worry About Your Mac Password Again
Forgetting your Mac password can be frustrating, but there are easy ways to reset it, like using your Apple ID, or more advanced options like Single-User Mode and Target Disk Mode. You’re never fully locked out.
Here are some more tips about Mac passwords:
- If you often forget your password, you can remove it from your Mac.
- Password not working? Check for malware, reset NVRAM/SMC, boot in Safe Mode, or factory reset your Mac.
- If you’re logged in, you can find saved passwords on your Mac to keep track of all your credentials.