How to Reset Admin Password on Mac OS X

Use Apple ID

Try entering the wrong password three times. If you enabled this security feature when you initially set up your account, you can now use your Apple ID to reset your password. This method can only be used in cases where the above feature is already enabled.

If you have access to a Mac, you can enable this setting by clicking the Apple menu and choosing "System Preferences." Click the "Users & Groups" option and select your account. Click the lock button to open the setup options and then select "Allow user to reset password using Apple ID" (Allow users to reset password using Apple ID).

Click the link that appears to reset your password. This link will appear after you enter your password incorrectly three times. If the above option doesn't appear, the feature isn't enabled for your account and you'll have to use another method.

Enter your Apple ID password. To reset your admin password, you need to enter your Apple ID password. That's the Apple ID associated with your Mac user account.

Create a new admin password. After entering your Apple ID password, you will be asked to create a new administrative password. To do so, you need to enter your new password twice.

Use the new password after restarting the computer. After creating a new password, you will have to restart your computer. When your computer restarts, log in with the password you just created.

Generate a new keychain. After logging in with your new password, you will most likely be notified that you cannot access the keychain. That's because this keychain is only secured with the original admin password, and for safety reasons, you can't access it with the new password. You will have to generate a new keychain for the password.

Use Recovery Mode

Restart the computer. If you can't change your password using your Apple ID, you can use Recovery Mode. You need to access Recovery Mode while the computer is booting.

Press and hold . ⌘ Command+ R as soon as you hear the tone. Continue holding the keys until the loading bar appears. The Mac will start up in recovery mode. It may take a while for your computer to finish loading.

Click the "Utilities" menu in the toolbar at the top of the screen and select "Terminal."

Type . resetpassword and press ⏎ Return. The Reset Password utility will open.

Select your hard drive. If your Mac has multiple hard drives, you will have to select the drive on which the operating system is installed. Usually it's a "Macintosh HD" drive.

Select the user account for which you want to change the password. Use the drop-down menu to select your user account.

Create a new admin password by entering it twice.

Enter a password hint (optional). This hint will appear when you have difficulty logging in.

Click "Save" to save your new password. This password will take effect after you restart your computer.

Click the Apple menu and choose "OS X Utilities" → "Quit OS X Utilities". Choose to restart your computer when prompted. The computer will restart and your new password will take effect.

Log in with new password. After restarting your Mac, select your user account and sign in with your new password.

Use another admin account

Log in with a secondary admin account. With this method, the second account needs to be granted administrative rights and you must also know that account's administrative password.

If you are logged in with your account, log out and choose another admin account.

Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences". The system setup menu will open.

Select "Users & Groups". All users on the computer will be displayed.

Click the lock at the bottom of the window to change the Users & Groups settings. You will be asked to re-enter the administrator password for the account you are using.

Select the original account. This account is listed in the menu on the left. Options to set up your account will appear.

Click the "Reset Password" button to create a new password for your account.

Create a new admin password for the original account. Here, you will have to enter it twice to confirm the password. Click "Change Password" to save.

Log out and log in to the original account with the new password. Now, you can log in with the password you just created above.

Generate a new keychain. When you log in with a new password, you will be asked to update your password or create a new keychain. Because you don't remember the old password to update, you will have to create a new keychain here.

Change when you know the password

Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences". System setup options will be opened. This method only works if you know the old password. If you forget your password, use the other methods described in this article.

Select "Users & Groups" to change user settings on your computer.

Click the padlock in the lower left corner and enter the current password. At this point, you can proceed to change the settings.

Select your user account and press "Change Password". A new window allowing you to change your password will appear.

Enter the old password in the first field. This is the password you are using.

Create a new password. You will have to enter it twice to confirm. Click "Change Password" to save the new password.

Add a suggestion (optional). You can add a password hint: this hint will appear when you have trouble logging in. You should take this step to avoid the hassle of resetting your password if you forget it.

Start using your new password now. The new password will take effect immediately and you will have to use it every time you are asked to enter your password.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 14 December 2023