How to install and change a Mac password

The macOS user account's password is also the login password. This is also the password you use to log in with your Mac, choose to change some or download certain software.

Change Password

You can change your Mac's password under Users & Groups:

Step 1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then choose Users & Groups .

Step 2. Choose your name from the list of usernames.

Step 3. Click the Change Password button , follow the instructions on the screen.

Password reset

If you don't remember your password or have an error, you can reset your password in one of the following ways. First, let's try the simplest:

Make sure to type each letter correctly (where it is capitalized, what is lowercase). If your keyboard has Caps Lock on, the password field also has a Caps Lock icon.
If the password entry box shows a question mark, click it to display a password hint, which will help you remember more easily.
Try logging in without a password. If that works, you can add a password as shown above.
Try signing in with the Apple ID password you use for iCloud. If you recently changed your password and the new one isn't working yet, try again with the old one. If possible, use a new password from now on.

Reset password via Apple ID

In some versions of macOS, you can use an Apple ID to reset your password. At the login screen, enter your password until you see a message saying that you can reset your password using your Apple ID. If you don't see the above message after 3 tries, your account won't allow you to reset using Apple ID.

Step 1. Press the 'play' button next to the Apple ID message, then follow the on-screen instructions to enter your Apple ID and create a new password. You will be asked to restart your computer once it's done.

Step 2. Login with your new password.

Reinstall using another admin account

If you know the name and password of the admin account on your Mac, you can use that account to reset your password yourself.

How to install and change a Mac password Picture 1

Step 1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then click on Users & Groups .

Step 2.Click on the lock icon and enter the admin username and password.

Step 3.Select your name from the list of users.

Step 4.Press the Reset Password button , then follow the on-screen instructions to create a new password.

Step 5.Select Log Out from the Apple menu.

Step 6.Log in to your account with your new password.

Reset using the Reset Password assistant (FileVault must be enabled)

If FileVault is already enabled, you can reset the password using the Reset Password assistant:

How to install and change a Mac password Picture 2

Step 1. Wait about 1 minute at the login screen until you see a message saying that you can use the power button on your Mac to shut down and turn it back on in Recovery OS mode . Without this message, FileVault is not enabled.

Step 2. Hold down the power button until the Mac is completely turned off.

Step 3. Press the power button again to turn the Mac on.

Step 4. When the Reset Password screen appears, follow the on-screen instructions to create a new password. (If you need to connect to Wifi, move your cursor at the top of the screen and use the Wifi menu to connect. To exit the password reset screen, choose Apple menu > Restart ).

Step 5. When finished, select Restart .

Step 6. If you can change your password with the Reset Password assistant, log in to your account with the new password.

Reset password with Recovery Key (FileVault must be enabled)

If FileVault is already enabled and you have FileVault's Recovey Key, you can use this code to reset the password.

Step 1. At the login screen, enter your password until you see a message saying that you can reset your password via Recovery Key . If you don't see the message after 3 tries, FileVault is not enabled.

Step 2. Press the 'play' button next to the notification. The password entry will change the Recovery Key.

Step 3. Enter the Recovery Key . Use capital letters including hyphens.

Step 4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a new password, then select Reset Password when done.

If you can't sign in with your new password after restarting your Mac, follow these steps:

Step 1. Reboot again, immediately hold down Command + R or one of the macOS Recovery combinations until you see the Apple logo or globe icon rotating.

Step 2. When you see the macOS Utilities window, choose Utilities> Terminal from the menu bar.

Step 3. In the Terminal window, type resetpassword, then press Return to open the above Reset Password assistant image.

Step 4. Select 'My password doesn't work when logging in' then click Next and follow the onscreen instructions for your user account.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 26 March 2021

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