Reset Administrator Password on Mac

To reset an administrator password on a Mac, first try the password-reset options on the login screen using the Apple ID connected to the account. If those options are unavailable, start macOS Recovery and use the Reset Password assistant.

A Mac administrator password is the login password for an account allowed to install software, change system settings, and manage other users. It is separate from an Apple Account password, although an Apple Account may help reset it.

What are the signs you need an administrator password reset?

You may need an administrator password reset when the Mac repeatedly rejects a password you previously used, the account is locked after several attempts, or no known password works for an administrator account.

• You forgot the administrator password on the Mac and cannot sign in.
• The password works for an Apple Account but not for the Mac login. These can be different passwords.
• The Mac asks for an administrator name and password before changing a protected setting, but no available credentials are accepted.
• The login screen says the account is locked or directs you to restart and show password-reset options.
• You received a used Mac and the former owner’s account is still present.

If the Mac came from another owner, resetting that person’s password is not the proper way to take ownership. The former owner should remove personal data and any Activation Lock, after which macOS can be erased and set up for the new owner.

How do I reset an administrator password on a Mac using Apple ID?

An Apple ID, now called an Apple Account, can reset a Mac login password only when that recovery option was enabled for the account. The exact wording varies by macOS version.

1. At the Mac login screen, enter the password up to three times. Look for a question mark beside the password field or a message offering reset options.
2. Select the option to reset the password using an Apple ID or Apple Account. If the screen says to restart and show password-reset options, follow that prompt.
3. Enter the Apple Account credentials connected to the Mac. Complete any identity check shown on another trusted device.
4. Select the administrator account that needs a new password.
5. Enter and confirm a new Mac login password. Add a hint that helps without revealing the password.
6. Restart if prompted, then sign in with the new administrator password.

After a reset, macOS may say it cannot unlock the old login keychain. The login keychain stores saved passwords and other credentials. If the old password is unavailable, create a new keychain when prompted; previously stored keychain items may not carry over.

How do I reset an administrator password on a Mac using Recovery Mode?

macOS Recovery is a built-in startup environment for repairing a Mac and reinstalling macOS. The way to enter it depends on whether the Mac has Apple silicon or an Intel processor.

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 screen appears.
4. If asked to select a user whose password you know, look for an option indicating that all passwords were forgotten. Follow the displayed recovery steps if available.
5. If the password assistant does not appear, open Terminal from the Utilities menu in macOS Recovery.
6. Type resetpassword and press Return. If formatting is stripped by the page, enter the single lowercase word resetpassword with no spaces.
7. In the Reset Password assistant, select the startup disk and the administrator account when requested.
8. Create a new password, confirm it, and restart the Mac.

If macOS Recovery requests an Apple Account, FileVault key, or known user password before showing the disk, provide an authorized recovery credential. The Terminal command does not bypass Activation Lock, FileVault encryption, or ownership checks.

How do I reset an administrator password with a FileVault recovery key?

FileVault encrypts the Mac’s startup disk. A FileVault recovery key is the long code created when FileVault was enabled, unless recovery was configured through an Apple Account or an organization.

1. At the login screen, enter an incorrect password until a reset message or question mark appears.
2. Select the option to reset using the recovery key. If macOS tells you to restart for password-reset options, restart from that prompt.
3. Enter the FileVault recovery key exactly as saved. Distinguish similar characters carefully and include hyphens if the screen expects them.
4. Select the authorized user account, create a new administrator password, and restart.
5. Sign in with the new password and store any newly issued recovery information in a secure place.

A FileVault recovery key cannot be reconstructed from a partial code. If an employer or school manages the Mac, its technology administrator may hold an institutional recovery key.

What should I do if no Mac password-reset method works?

If Apple Account recovery, macOS Recovery, and the FileVault recovery key all fail, stop repeated guessing and check which screen is blocking access. A padlock at startup, an Activation Lock request, and a normal user-login prompt are different problems.

• For a personally owned Mac, contact official Apple Support and be ready to provide the Mac’s serial number and proof of purchase if requested.
• For a work or school Mac, contact the organization’s technology administrator. Device management can change which recovery choices are available.
• For a used Mac showing Activation Lock, ask the previous owner to remove the Mac from their Apple Account. Reinstalling macOS does not remove Activation Lock.
• If the data is not needed and ownership checks can be completed, erase the Mac from macOS Recovery and reinstall macOS. Erasing permanently removes local accounts and files that were not backed up.

FileVault-protected data generally remains inaccessible without an authorized password or recovery method. Password-reset instructions should not be treated as a way around disk encryption.

How can I prevent another administrator lockout on a Mac?

Prepare more than one authorized recovery method before another administrator password is forgotten.

• Store the FileVault recovery key in a secure location separate from the Mac. Do not keep the only copy in a file on the encrypted Mac.
• Keep the connected Apple Account current and maintain access to its trusted devices and recovery information.
• Create a second administrator account for emergency maintenance. Protect it with a unique password and do not use it for everyday work.
• Use a reputable password manager to save the Mac login password and record clearly that it may differ from the Apple Account password.
• Maintain a current backup so important files are recoverable if erasing and reinstalling macOS becomes necessary.
• Before transferring a Mac, sign out of personal services, remove Activation Lock properly, and erase the device through the supported macOS process.