Forgot Your Mac Password? How to Reset It

If you can't remember your Mac password, first check the keyboard settings and password hint, then use the reset option on the login screen. If no reset option appears, start macOS Recovery and use Apple's password reset tools.

Your Mac login password unlocks your local user account. It may be different from your Apple Account password, which was previously called an Apple ID password.

Why isn't my Mac password being accepted?

A rejected Mac password does not always mean you have forgotten it. Before changing anything, check for these common problems:

• Caps Lock is on. Passwords use uppercase and lowercase letters exactly as entered.
• A key was pressed twice or missed, especially on a small keyboard.
• The login screen is using a different keyboard layout. Check the input menu, if one appears, and confirm that symbols are entered as expected.
• You are entering your Apple Account password instead of the separate password for your Mac user account.
• You changed the Mac password recently and are trying the previous one.
• You have not used the Mac for a long time and genuinely no longer remember the password.

Searches such as “i can't remember my Mac password” and “cant remember password on Mac” describe the login password, not necessarily the Apple Account password. Identify which password the screen requests before starting a reset.

What should I try before resetting my Mac password?

1. Confirm that you selected your own user account if the login screen shows more than one account.
2. Turn Caps Lock off and type the password slowly. Check the keyboard layout shown on the login screen, if available.
3. Try only a small number of passwords you commonly use. Repeated unsuccessful attempts can make the Mac impose a waiting period.
4. Select the question mark beside the password field, if shown. The Mac may display the password hint created for that account.
5. If the login screen says the account is locked, wait for the stated time before trying again.

Restarting the Mac may make reset choices appear after another unsuccessful attempt. Do not keep guessing rapidly, because that can delay the next attempt without helping identify the correct password.

How do I reset my Mac password with my Apple Account?

Some Macs let you reset the login password by signing in with the Apple Account connected to the user account. The exact wording depends on the macOS version and how the Mac was configured.

1. At the Mac login screen, enter a password up to three times until a reset message appears.
2. Select “Forgot password?”, “Restart and show password reset options,” or the arrow beside a message about resetting with an Apple Account.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions. You may be asked to sign in to your Apple Account and enter a verification code sent to a trusted device or trusted phone number.
4. Select the affected Mac user account.
5. Create a new login password and add a useful hint that does not reveal the password itself.
6. Restart the Mac if instructed, then sign in with the new password.

If you cannot sign in to the Apple Account, use Apple's account recovery instructions through {site}. Account recovery may take time, and Apple Support cannot bypass the verification process.

How do I reset my password in macOS Recovery?

macOS Recovery is a built-in startup environment containing repair and password-reset tools. The way you open it differs between Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs.

1. Shut down the Mac completely.
2. On a Mac with Apple silicon, press and hold the power button until startup options appear. Select Options, then Continue.
3. On an Intel-based Mac, turn it on and immediately hold Command-R until an Apple logo or another startup image appears.
4. Select a user you know the password for if Recovery requests one. If you do not know any password, look for an option such as “Forgot all passwords?”
5. Follow the password reset assistant. You may need your Apple Account details or a FileVault recovery key.
6. Select the correct account, create a new password, restart the Mac, and test the new password.

If Recovery opens Disk Utility or another utility window without showing reset choices, use the Recovery menu options for resetting a password. Available screens vary by macOS version, so follow the labels displayed on the Mac rather than choosing disk erase options.

What if FileVault is turned on?

FileVault is Apple's feature for encrypting the information on a Mac's startup disk. When FileVault is enabled, resetting access may require an authorized user's password, the connected Apple Account, or the FileVault recovery key created when encryption was turned on.

A FileVault recovery key is a long code used to unlock the encrypted disk when an ordinary password cannot. Enter it exactly as recorded, including letters and numbers. A FileVault recovery key is not the same as an Apple Account recovery key.

If both the required credentials and the FileVault recovery method are unavailable, Apple may not be able to unlock the encrypted information. Erasing the Mac and reinstalling macOS may be the remaining way to use the computer, but erasing removes information stored on that Mac. Before choosing erase, check whether important files exist in iCloud, Time Machine, or another backup and ask Apple Support to confirm the available options for your configuration.

What should I do after regaining access to my Mac?

1. Choose a new Mac login password that is memorable to you but difficult for someone else to guess. Avoid names, birthdays, and short repeated patterns.
2. Create a password hint that helps only you. Do not place the complete password in the hint.
3. Store the password in a trusted password manager or write it down and keep it in a secure location away from the Mac.
4. Confirm that your Apple Account has current trusted contact information so verification codes can reach you.
5. Open Keychain Access if apps repeatedly request saved passwords. A keychain is the encrypted store macOS uses for passwords and other credentials.

When a Mac password is reset without the previous password, the old login keychain may not unlock automatically. macOS may ask you to create a new keychain. You may then need to enter passwords again in apps and websites; do not delete an old keychain unless you understand what stored credentials it contains.

When should I contact Apple Support about a forgotten Mac password?

Contact Apple Support if no reset message appears, macOS Recovery will not start, Apple Account verification fails, or FileVault asks for credentials you do not have. Also seek help before erasing the Mac when you are unsure whether a backup exists.

Have the Mac nearby and be ready to describe the exact message on its screen. Apple may also request identifying device information and proof of ownership, but support cannot tell you an existing password or bypass FileVault encryption. Use {site} to reach Apple's official support choices and follow the options for Mac login or Apple Account access.