How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac

It's easy to forget passwords. If you're lucky enough to own a Mac, you have an easy option for recovering access to your computer with minimal risk to your computer's security. These instructions should run you through the process of...

Method 1 of 2:

Resetting Password on a Mac running OS X 10.7 – 10.10

  1. Picture 1 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Restart your Mac. When your Mac begins its startup process, hold down the "Command" and "R" keys.
  2. Picture 2 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Open Terminal.
    1. Click "Utilities" in the menu bar.
    2. Select "Terminal".
  3. Picture 3 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Type "reset password" into Terminal and hit "Enter". This will result in a reset password tool popping up.
  4. Picture 4 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Select your computer's hard drive. In some isolated cases your computer's hard drive may not show up. This occurs if your hard drive is encrypted and can't be modified with this password tool.
  5. Picture 5 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Choose a user to reset.
  6. Picture 6 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Enter a new password. This will become your user's master password, so be sure to remember your change.
  7. Picture 7 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Click Save. After clicking save, nothing major will happen. The password fields in the form will go blank. Just go ahead and proceed to the next step.
  8. Picture 8 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Restart your Mac. When your Mac boots, you should be able to log in to the user you forgot the password for.
Method 2 of 2:

Resetting Password on a Mac running OS X 10.3 – 10.6

  1. Picture 9 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Put your OS installation disk in your Mac's CD drive.
    1. Do this while the computer is on.
  2. Picture 10 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Restart your Mac. When your Mac begins its start-up process, hold down the "C" key.
  3. Picture 11 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Select your language.
  4. Picture 12 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Open the password reset tool.
    1. For 10.6 or later, click "Utilities" in the menu and select "Password Reset".
    2. For 10.4 or later, click "Utilities" in the menu and select "Reset Password".
    3. For 10.3, click "Installer" in the menu and select "Reset Password".
  5. Picture 13 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Select your computer's hard drive.
  6. Picture 14 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Choose a user to reset.
  7. Picture 15 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Enter a new password.
  8. Picture 16 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Click Save.
  9. Picture 17 of How to Reset Any User's Password on a Mac
    Restart your Mac and your password will be reset.
Update 04 March 2020
passwordmacresetselect

You should read it

Maybe you are interested

Category

System

Mac OS X

Hardware

Game

Tech info

Technology

Science

Life

Application

Electric

Program

Mobile