5 ways to recover password on Mac

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It happened. You forgot your OS X account password and can't turn on your Mac. Do not worry, we will not blame you for frivolity, but simply suggest five ways out of this unpleasant situation.

First you need to calm down. There are no hopeless situations. If you can't remember your password, you can reset it and set a new one. In some cases, you may need to boot discs or even reinstall the system. But don't panic ahead of time.

1. Remember the password using a hint

OS X does not limit the number of invalid input attempts, so feel free to try all of the options. After the third time, the system will give you the hint that you added when creating the password. Maybe this will help. If not, then go to the next item.

Important! If you are reading this article just for reference and know your password - check if you added a hint to it and add if not.

2. Reset your password using your Apple ID

On the same screen, along with a passphrase, a link to reset using your Apple ID is displayed. You probably remember him.

Everything is simple here: enter the login and password of your Apple ID account (the one you use when downloading applications from the App Store), then confirm the creation of a new keychain for storing passwords.

Important! If FileVault encryption is enabled, a reset will only be possible if the recovery key is stored in iCloud (the option is enabled by default).

3. Reset the password using another administrator account

Another option for password recovery. When there are two users with administrator rights in the system, then you can perform the procedure for resetting the password of one account using the other.

To do this, you must log in under a different account, and then, having selected your own in the settings, click the "Reset password" button and enter a new password and a hint to it.

Important! You will be able to access your account, but you will not be able to use the passwords from the keychain, so the next time you log in, you will be prompted to create a new one.

4. Reset the password using the recovery utility

A more complex method that allows you to reset the password for any user account, provided that the data on the disk is not encrypted through FileVault.

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. While holding down the Command and R keys, press the power button and wait for the system to boot into recovery mode.

3. Select "Terminal" from the "Utilities" menu.

4. Enter the command

resetpassword

5. Select a boot disk, if you have more than one, and the account for which you want to reset the password.

6. Set a new password, a hint to it and save the changes.

7. Shut down your Mac using the Apple menu and turn it on as usual.

8. Use a new password to log in.

Important! As with the previous method, resetting your account password will leave the keychain password unchanged, and the first time you sign in, you will be prompted to create a new one.

5. Reinstall OS X

The last resort, which entails the removal of all data from the disk. Use this method only if you have no other choice. The easiest way to reinstall OS X is from recovery mode. To get into it, you need to follow the same procedure as in the previous method.

1. Shut down your Mac.

2. Turn it on by holding the Option and R keys and wait for it to boot into recovery mode.

3. Select Reinstall OS X from the Utilities menu.

4. Next, following the wizard's prompts, install the operating system and create a new account.

5. Be careful this time and try not to forget your password.

Important! The method will not work if FileVault encryption or firmware password is enabled.

Apple has taken good care of the safety of user data, while leaving a few "lifebuoys" for emergencies. However, as you probably noticed, they will help you out only if certain conditions are met (encryption and firmware password disabled). You should not play as a spy, abusing increased security measures, so that later you become hostage to your frivolity. Use a strong password, but one that will be easy for you to remember and, in which case, recover!