In this guide, you will see how you can bypass and reset your Mac password.
I am sure we all have lost our passwords at some point. To reset your password for online accounts, simply click a few links, enter your email address, and follow the instructions. But what happens if you forget your Mac’s password? After attempting and failing to remember the password you thought was correct, it is natural to feel anxious. Take a few deep breaths. You will not be locked out for a prolonged period of time.
Apple understands how stressful it is to forget your password, especially if you are short on time. As a result, macOS has a tool that can help in this case. You can unlock your Mac without a password using a few different techniques, depending on whether you linked your Apple ID to your user account during setup or if you have one of the new M1 Macs.
It is fine if you did not link your Apple ID; you can still reset your account password using another method. Here’s how to bypass and reset your Mac password.
Table of Contents
How to bypass and reset your Mac password?
Here are 7 simple solutions to help reset your Mac password:
1. Use recovery mode to bypass and reset your Mac Password
If you have forgotten your Mac password and are unable to log into any of your accounts. You have tried all of the pet names but there are no password indications and you can not recall it. Apple’s Recovery Mode is available in such situations.
To activate the Recovery Mode, follow these steps:
- Turn off your computer and press and hold the power button + Command R at the same time. While your Mac boots to Recovery, wait for the loading bar to display on the screen.
- Then select Disk Utility > Continue > Utilities Terminal from the drop-down menu.
- Click Return after typing “resetpassword” (in one word).
- Select your user account from the main hard disc.
Finally, reset your Mac password, add a hint to make it easier to remember in the future, and save. After a restart, you will be able to use the new password.
If FileVault and/or a Firmware password are deactivated on your Mac computer, this option will not work.
2. Use Apple ID to bypass and reset your Mac password
You can reset your password from the login window if you have an Apple ID associated with your Mac user account. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Allows the user to reset the password using Apple ID and turn it on. You will be asked to restart your computer after typing the wrong user password three times to see the password recovery alternatives. After it reboots, you will be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID, choose the user account for which you wish to change the password, and then type in a new password for that account.
3. To unlock your Mac, use an admin account.
If you share your Mac with friends or family members, there are chances to reset the password. The important thing to remember is that you will require access to an admin user account. Typically, the person who set up the Mac has an admin account by default, but you can double-check by logging in and going to System Preferences > Users & Groups and looking at the list of user accounts on your Mac.
The account type appears just below the user name; if it says “Admin,” you can reset user passwords. To do so, go back to the Users & Groups screen and click the lock. When prompted, enter your admin name and password. Select the user whose password you want to be reset, then click the ResetPassword button and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Set automatic login to bypass and reset your Mac password
If you have access to your Mac system and want to bypass and reset your Mac password because typing in the password every time you log in is a hassle and time waste, you can program your computer to log in automatically. Let us go over the processes for setting up automatic login.
- Go to User Preferences>Groups in System Preferences.
- At the bottom of the window, there will be a lock icon with the message “click the lock to make changes.”
- From the list, select your user’s name.
- To confirm automated login, you will need to enter your username and password again.
- Restart your Mac machine, and you will be able to log in without a password the next time.
5. Use Single-User mode to bypass and reset your Mac Password
This is a cool approach to get around the Mac password. This approach is best for people with basic technical knowledge because it requires writing the command on a terminal, which might be intimidating for beginners. Here’s how to bypass the Mac password in single-user mode
- Shut down your computer.
- Start up your Mac computer.
- To enter single-user mode, press and hold the Command () + S keys together.
- Type the following commands
mount -uw launchctl load com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist passwd /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist passwd **username**, where **username** is the username of the account for which you want to change the password.
- Then press Enter to create a new password.
- Retype the password to confirm it. Enter.
- Enter “reboot” in the search box and press Enter.
You have now successfully bypassed the mac password and can immediately log in to your Mac using your username and new password.
6. Use Target Disk Mode to bypass and reset your Mac password
Another possibility is to use another computer to access your Mac’s hard drive. Target Disk Mode, in a sense, allows you to store any data on your Mac’s hard disc.
- To access the Target Disk Mode, click the Target Disk Mode button on the toolbar.
- Close your computer and connect another Mac with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable.
- Wait for the hard drive to appear on the screen by pressing the power button while holding the T button down.
- You can now access your computer’s files and utilise it as an external hard drive.
This concludes the discussion. Any data on your Mac may now be accessed and recovered quickly.
7. Get a password hint
You can use a clue to retrieve your Apple password if you forget it. Whenever you choose a new password, we recommend you add hints. A few simple steps are required:
- System Preferences> Users & Groups
- click the Lock icon> user name
- Choose the option to change your password, then in “Password hint (recommended),” type a phrase or word that you want to associate with a newly established password.
There is one more thing. Allowing your Mac to display hints will ensure that your password hint appears when you need it. Click Login settings and select the box next to “Show password clues” in the Users & Groups section.
FAQs
On my Mac, how can I see my saved passwords?
Apple’s tool for saving passwords, Keychain Access, comes pre-installed on all Macs. For Safari, Wi-Fi networks, and apps, it remembers usernames and passwords. Keychain Access fills in your account information. Go to Applications > Utilities>Keychain Access. Click on Show Password, check the box.
Why can’t I reset my Mac password?
Click Erase Mac in the Erase Mac window, then confirm by clicking Erase Mac. If your Mac restarts with a question mark glowing, press and holds the power button for a few seconds until it goes off. Reinstall macOS after restarting from macOS Recovery.
On a Mac, how can I find my Wi-Fi password?
Your saved Wi-Fi password can be found in Keychain on your Mac. Go to System > Passwords after launching Keychain Access. Find your network name, then click Show Password and follow the login steps.
Is iPhone 15 coming? Here, get to know everything you need to know about iPhone 15;
iPhone 15: News, Price, Release Date, Specs, and Rumors
Bottom Line
All of the methods shown above are simple to use, especially if you are familiar with the Mac OS. We hope you were able to bypass your mac password and use your computer again, regardless of the technique you employed. Let us know if you have any other problems, we will gladly help you. Also, stay tuned for more informative posts like these.
