Forgot Your Mac Login Password? Safe Reset Options

A Mac login password unlocks a local user account; it is not necessarily the same as the password for your Apple Account. Use Apple's built-in reset options rather than deleting system setup files or creating an unauthorized administrator account.

Check simple sign-in problems first

• Restart the Mac and select the correct user.
• Check Caps Lock and the keyboard input language shown in the login window.
• Enter the Mac user password—not an email address, Apple Account password, or device passcode unless they are intentionally the same.
• Select the question mark to view a password hint if one was configured.

Use the reset message in the login window

After up to three failed attempts, the login window may show a message such as Restart and show password reset options, Reset it using your Apple Account, or Reset it using your recovery key. Choose the offered method and follow the onscreen steps.

If the account is temporarily locked, wait for the displayed time, restart, and try again. Apple's current Mac login password recovery guide explains the available messages.

Reset from macOS Recovery

If no reset option appears, start macOS Recovery:

• Apple silicon: shut down, then press and hold the power button until startup options appear. Select Options > Continue.
• Intel Mac: restart and immediately hold Command + R until the recovery screen appears.

Select a user you know the password for if prompted, then use the password-reset option presented by Recovery. Depending on the Mac's configuration, you may need an Apple Account, a FileVault recovery key, or credentials for an authorized user.

On a work or school Mac, contact the administrator instead of trying to bypass management or FileVault policy.

Use another administrator account

If an authorized administrator can sign in, open System Settings > Users & Groups, select the information button beside the affected user, and choose Reset. This changes the local login password but may not unlock the user's existing login keychain.

Apple's Users & Groups instructions distinguish changing your own password from resetting another user's password.

Understand the keychain consequence

If the old password is unknown, the existing login keychain may remain locked because it was encrypted with that password. macOS can create a new default keychain, but locally stored passwords and secrets that were only in the old keychain may be unavailable. iCloud Keychain items can resync after you sign in and complete account verification.

Do not delete keychain files casually. Review Apple's keychain password guidance.

If no authorized reset method works

The last resort is to erase the Mac and reinstall macOS, which removes local data that is not backed up. Activation Lock may still require the associated Apple Account. Confirm backups and ownership before erasing anything.

The old Single User Mode method that deleted /var/db/.AppleSetupDone is obsolete and unsafe. It attempted to trigger Setup Assistant to create another administrator and should not be used on a current Mac.