Forgot Mac Admin Password: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you have forgotten your Mac admin password, don't worry! Resetting it is a relatively straightforward process that can be done in recovery mode. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to reset your admin password on Mac OS X (Yosemite and Mavericks).

Using Recovery Mode to Reset Your Admin Password

To start the process, you'll need to boot your Mac into recovery mode. This is a special mode that allows you to access and modify certain settings without needing your administrator password.

Here's how to do it:

1. Restart your Mac.

2. As soon as the screen turns back on or you hear the boot chime sound, start holding down the COMMAND + R keys concurrently to boot into Recovery mode.

Resetting Your Admin Password

Once you're in recovery mode, follow these steps to reset your admin password:

1. At the 'MacOS Utilities' screen, pull down the 'Utilities' menu and choose 'Terminal'.

2. In the Terminal window, type the following exactly: `resetpassword`

3. Hit the return key to launch the Reset Password tool.

4. Choose the user account or admin account you want to reset the password for.

5. Enter a new password, confirm the new password, set a password hint (recommended), and then click on 'Next' to set the new password for the account in question.

Alternative Method: Resetting Your Admin Password with an Apple ID

For Macs running Sierra or later, you can also reset your admin password using an Apple ID. This method allows you to reset any password for any user on a MacOS Sierra computer, including the admin account.

To use this method:

1. Incorrectly enter your password a few times.

2. You will be prompted to use an Apple ID to reset your password.

3. Follow the prompts to reset your password using your Apple ID.

Tips and Precautions

Before resetting your admin password, keep in mind that enabling FileVault for disk encryption can also be beneficial to users who are generally concerned about data security and privacy. Additionally, you can set a firmware password on your Mac to prevent easy password resetting, but do be forewarned that if you forget the firmware password it can be a much more significant ordeal.

That's it! With these steps, you should be able to reset your admin password using recovery mode. Remember to choose a strong and unique password for your admin account to ensure maximum security and protection of your Mac.

Forgot mac admin password