Buzz
The first and simplest solution you can try is using your Apple ID (used for logging into iTunes and the App Store). The second method involves a kind of 'hack' that doesn't require a Mac OS X recovery drive. And the third solution, also the last but straightforward one, requires a Mac OS X installation DVD, a bootable disk, or a Recovery mode partition to utilize.
Which solution to use for resetting your Mac password is entirely up to you.
Resetting Lost Mac Password with Apple ID
This is the best approach for users on newer versions of OS X (Yosemite, Mavericks, Mountain Lion, and Lion). It's incredibly quick and straightforward. The only requirement is that you must 'link' an Apple ID with your user account, and you must have internet access for your Mac to contact Apple to initiate the password reset process.
- From the Mac login or startup screen, enter any wrong password three times to trigger the Password Hint dialog and the message 'If you forgot your password you can reset it using your Apple ID'... click the arrow icon (>) to begin the password reset process with your Apple ID.
- Enter your Apple ID login information, which is similar to what you use to sign in to the App Store, iTunes, and iCloud, then click 'Reset Password'.
- Confirm the new password and let your Mac restart normally.
The steps are quite simple. Using Apple ID is the quickest, simplest solution, and the preferred choice for Mac users.
But what if you don't have an Apple ID linked to your Mac account? Or if you don't remember your Apple ID password and don't have internet access? If you find yourself in this situation, there's no need to worry too much. That's what Free Download will address below.
Reset Mac Password - No CD Drive, No Boot Drive
With this solution, you can reset a forgotten Mac password without needing to use any CD/DVD installation drives for Mac OS X or Boot Drives, nor do you need an Apple ID.
Essentially, this is the go-to method if nothing else works. It ensures you can get back into your Mac when other options are unavailable, and this solution works across all versions of OS X.
Follow the steps below to reset your Mac password:
Step 1: Boot into Single User Mode to delete the setup file
- Restart your Mac, press and hold Command + S to access Single User Mode and Terminal interface.
- The first step you need to take is to check the system file using the command:
fsck -fy
- Next, you need to mount the root drive as a writable drive:
mount -uw /
- Enter the exact command below, then press Enter:
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
After deleting the applesetupdone file, you'll need to restart your Mac. Enter the command 'reboot' into the Terminal window and press Enter.
Step 2: Create a new user account in System Boot
At this point, there are no more command lines, and you're using the familiar interface of Mac OS X to complete the password reset process. In this step, you'll be guided on how to create a new user account as if you were buying a new Mac:
- After your Mac restarts, the Welcome Wizard window will appear, similar to when you use Mac for the first time.
- Follow the steps in the Welcome Wizard window and create a new user account - name the account differently from the account with the password you want to reset.
- Next, boot into Mac OS X using the new user account you just created. This new user account is an Admin account with Admin access rights.
Step 3: Reset Forgotten Password via System Preferences
After completing the steps above, now you just need to reset the forgotten user password using the Accounts control panel:
- Upon booting into Mac OS X, click the Apple logo and navigate to System Preferences.
- Select the Accounts icon in System Preferences.
- Click the Lock icon in the bottom left corner of the Accounts window and enter the information of the new user account you created in the previous step. This allows you to change user accounts and reset the password of another user account.
- On the left-side user control panel, select the user account containing the forgotten password.
- Choose the user account you forgot the password for, then click the Reset Password button.
- Enter a new password for that user account, be sure to add a meaningful hint so you won't forget the password again.
- Close the System Preferences window and restart your Mac.
Now you can log in to the previously inaccessible user account using the newly reset password. All user files and settings remain intact as they were before forgetting the password.
Option: If desired, you can delete the temporary account you created to reset the user password. This is a wise solution to ensure security.
Summarizing how this solution works: by deleting the .applesetupdone file, you're telling Mac OS X to rerun the Setup wizard, which by default creates a new user account with Admin privileges, then you can reset the forgotten password of any user account on the Mac.
This is a clever workaround and troubleshooting technique in case you don't have a CD/DVD installation drive for Mac OS X. Many users have utilized this method to recover forgotten (or lost) Mac passwords.
Reset Mac Password using Mac OS X installation CD/DVD, Boot Drive, or Recovery Partition
Resetting a forgotten Mac password will be easier if you have an installation disk, boot drive, or recovery partition. The method you use to reset the password depends on the version of Mac OS X you're using.
For Mac OS X Mavericks (10.9), Mountain Lion (10.8), and Lion (10.7) using Recovery Mode:
- Boot into the Mac OS X boot loader menu by pressing and holding the Option key during system startup.
- Choose the Recovery drive to boot into Recovery Mode and wait for the Utilities window to appear.
- From the Utilities menu, select Terminal to open a Terminal window.
- Enter the command below into the Terminal window:
resetpassword
- Confirm the new account password and restart your Mac normally.
For Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6), Leopard (10.5), and earlier versions using installation DVD/CD:
- Insert the Bootable DVD into your Mac and restart (or power on) the computer.
- Boot from the disk by pressing and holding the C key during system startup.
- Choose the language you want, then at the Utilities menu, select Password Reset (or it may be Reset Password, the option name depends on the version of Mac OS X you're using).
- Select the hard drive with the forgotten password set to ON, then select the username with the forgotten password, and you'll be prompted to create a new password.
- Restart your Mac normally and use the newly reset password to log in.
Using this boot menu solution is clearly easier than the second solution. But does this solution work depending on whether you have a recovery partition (all newer Macs have a recovery partition), or with older Mac models, if you have an installation DVD drive.
Above are the solutions you can use in any situation to reset your password and access your Mac. For Windows users, you can refer to how to bypass Windows password when forgetting the password for your computer or laptop. Forgetting computer passwords is a common occurrence in many cases today.
If you want to take a screenshot on your MacBook but don't know how to do it, you can refer to the tutorial on how to take a screenshot on MacBook introduced by Mytour for successful execution.
