How to Reset Your Mac Password (Even If You’re Locked Out)

Article Summary 

• Login screen checks: Before resetting anything, restart your Mac and confirm that Caps Lock, the keyboard language, and the selected user account are correct.
• Apple silicon recovery: Macs with an M-series chip enter Recovery by holding the power or Touch ID button until the startup options appear.
• Intel Mac recovery: Intel-based Macs use the Command-R keyboard shortcut during startup, with Internet Recovery available when the built-in system will not load.
• Password reset options: Depending on how the Mac was configured, you may be able to verify your identity through your Apple Account, a FileVault recovery key, or another administrator account.
• What happens afterward: Resetting the login password normally leaves your personal files in place, although you may need to create a new login keychain and re-enter saved passwords.

Forgotten passwords are far from unusual. In fact, an Entrust survey found that 51% of respondents reset their passwords at least once a month because they couldn’t remember them. That’s why knowing how to regain access to your Mac can be so incredibly useful. 

It’s also why our team at My Computer Works is sharing how to reset your Mac password even if you’re locked out. So if you’re mentally reciting the phrase ‘I forgot my password to my MacBook, now what?’ this one’s for you. We’ll show you that a forgotten Mac password problem can often be fixed without wiping your computer or days of endless frustration. 

We’ll also show you different recovery methods because Apple silicon Macs and older Intel models do not enter Recovery the same way. Not to mention, your Mac may offer different reset options depending on whether you set up an Apple Account or FileVault recovery key.

Why You May Need to Reset Your Mac Password

There are a few reasons you might need to reset your Mac password, and the simplest is that you haven’t used your computer in a while and can no longer remember the login password. Another reason for a Mac password reset could be that you have entered it incorrectly enough times that the account has become temporarily locked. 

If you fall into the latter category, you’ll have to wait for the time shown on the screen to pass before restarting your Mac and trying again. Of course, you’ll need to have remembered your password if you’re going this route. 

Then, another reason you may need to reset your password is if it suddenly stops working after an update. If you suspect this to be the case, you’ll need to check whether Caps Lock is on and confirm that the Input menu on the login screen is using the correct keyboard language. 

Additionally, you may need to reset your Mac password if you mix up your Mac login password with your Apple Account password, which is also used for iCloud. Many tend to forget that their Mac login password is separate from their Apple Account password, so entering the password they use for iCloud usually doesn’t work. And then there’s a used Mac…which presents an entirely different problem. 

With a used Mac, if it opens to Activation Lock or asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account information, resetting the local password will not remove that protection. The previous owner may need to remove the Mac from their account before setup can continue.

Before You Begin

If you’re experiencing a situation where you have ‘forgot a Mac login,’ there are a few things you need to do before you get to the actual resetting of your Mac’s password. You’ll need to:

1. Plug the Mac in to power, or make sure the battery has enough charge to complete the password resetting process.
2. Connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network, since account verification and Internet Recovery may require an internet connection.
3. Have your Apple ID credentials ready if you know them. Apple now refers to an Apple ID as an Apple Account, but older reset messages may still use the previous name. 
4. You should locate your FileVault recovery key if you created one when turning on disk encryption.
5. Determine whether you have an Apple silicon or Intel-based Mac. The steps for entering Mac Recovery Mode depend on that distinction.

Once you’ve done the above, you’re ready to begin.

How to Identify Your Mac

In the steps above, we said to determine whether you have an Apple Silicon- or Intel-based Mac, but how do you do this to ensure you’re using the right Recovery method? 

Well, to identify your Mac, you’ll need to access the desktop through another user account, then click the Apple menu in the top-left corner. After doing this, you’ll open System Settings, then select General, and then choose About. Alternatively, you can select About This Mac directly from the Apple menu on supported macOS versions. 

A chip listed as Apple M1, M2, M3, M4, or another M-series model means you have Apple silicon. If the processor description includes Intel, you’ll have to use the Intel Mac password reset instructions. Additionally, when you cannot reach the desktop, check the Mac’s original packaging, receipt, or model details to see if you can identify the type of Mac you own that way.

It’s also worth knowing that Apple states that trying the wrong Recovery method will not harm your Mac. 

Reset Password on Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4/M5)

If you have a Mac with Apple Silicon, you will use the Apple Silicon Recovery method. To do this, begin by shutting your Mac down completely. If it won’t turn off normally, you can hold the power or Touch ID button for up to 10 seconds to switch it off. 

Then you will:

1. Press and hold that same button again and keep holding it while your Mac starts. 
2. Once the Mac shows the ‘Loading startup options’ message or the Options icon, you can release it. 
3. Thereafter, select Options and click Continue to enter Apple Silicon Recovery.
4. Once you’re in the Recovery menu, you’ll select ‘Forgot all passwords’ if the Mac asks you to choose a user whose password you know. 
5. Then you’ll follow the prompts to verify your identity and, if requested, choose the correct startup disk. 
6. After this, you’ll finally create a new login password, and when the reset is complete, you’ll restart the Mac and sign in. 

This process is the same if you’re looking at how to reset the password on a MacBook Air M2, since the M2 MacBook Air uses the same Apple silicon startup method.

Reset Password on Intel Macs

The process of resetting a password on Intel Macs isn’t more or less difficult than on Macs using Apple Silicon. If you want to reset your Intel Mac password, you need to: 

1. Shut down the Mac, press the power button, and immediately hold Command-R.
2. Keep holding both keys until the Apple logo or a spinning globe appears. You’ll know you’re in Apple Recovery Mode when the Recovery utilities become available.
3. Select “Forgot all passwords?” if it appears beneath the user accounts, then follow the instructions provided. At this step, you may be asked for your Apple Account information, FileVault recovery key, or startup disk.
4. If no password reset option appears, open Utilities from the menu bar and select Terminal. 
5. Type resetpassword, press Return, and choose the option that says you forgot your password or that it no longer works.
6. Create a new password, close the utility, and restart the Mac.

That’s all you’ll often need to do. 

Reset Using Your Apple ID

If you enter the wrong password about three times, your Mac will likely display a message offering options to reset it. You’ll want to click this message, then follow the prompts to reset your password using the Apple ID associated with your Mac. 

However, you’ll likely need to enter the email address or phone number (hopefully you remember them) linked to your Apple Account. It’s also possible that Apple will send you a verification code to one of your trusted devices. This is to verify your identity, and once you do so, you’ll have the opportunity to select the affected Mac user account and create a new login password.

But…and here’s what feels to be a million-dollar question…can you reset a Mac password without Apple ID? Well, another administrator account may be able to change the password, and a FileVault recovery key could provide another way to regain access.

What If Recovery Mode Doesn’t Work?

If Recovery Mode still will not open after you follow the steps above, try the fixes below before moving on to more drastic options like erasing your Mac:

• Try the startup process again on an Apple silicon Mac: Shut the Mac down completely, then firmly press and hold the power or Touch ID button until the startup options appear. If the computer starts normally, you may have released the button too soon.
• Check the keyboard on an Intel Mac: The Command-R shortcut may not register properly with some wireless keyboards. Use the MacBook’s built-in keyboard when possible, or connect a wired Mac-compatible keyboard and try again.
• Use Internet Recovery on an Intel Mac: You can restart the computer while holding Option-Command-R to boot your Mac into Recovery over the internet. A spinning globe means the recovery tools are loading. If a warning symbol appears, try a different Wi-Fi network or connect through Ethernet.

Once Recovery loads, you can return to the password reset steps and follow the prompts shown on the screen.

After Resetting Your Password

After resetting your password, you may see a warning on your Mac that it cannot unlock your existing login keychain, the secure place where it stores saved passwords and other login details. This usually happens because the keychain is still protected by your old Mac password. But it is not the end of the world. 

If you know your old password, enter it; otherwise, your Mac may have you create a new blank keychain. Should this happen, your personal files will remain in place, but passwords stored only in the old keychain may no longer be available, so you may need to sign back into certain apps and websites.

Tips to Prevent Future Lockouts

A few super simple precautions can make it much easier to regain access if you forget your Mac password again:

• Set up Touch ID if your Mac supports it: Touch ID makes everyday sign-ins easier, but you will still need your login password after restarting the Mac. You’ll want to store that password securely instead of relying on memory alone.
• Use a trusted password manager: If you do this, it gives you a secure place to keep passwords you may otherwise forget.
• Keep your Apple Account recovery details current: You should make sure Apple has your correct phone number and that you still have access to your trusted devices.
• Protect your FileVault recovery key: You need to save your FileVault recovery key somewhere secure that is separate from the encrypted Mac.

FAQs

Will resetting my password erase my files?

In most cases, simply resetting your login password will not erase any files on your Mac. However, Apple’s final recovery option is to erase the computer when no password reset method works, and that will unfortunately permanently remove your accounts and data. 

How do I Reset My Mac without a Password or Recovery Key?

Another administrator account may be able to change the password if you don’t remember your password or have a recovery key. However, just know that if FileVault protects the disk and you have lost all approved recovery methods, the encryption cannot simply be bypassed.

What If I Still Can’t Log in After Resetting My Password?

If you still can’t log in after resetting your password, check that you selected the correct user account and entered the new password with the correct capitalization. You also need to ensure you chose the correct keyboard language. Thereafter, you can restart your Mac and repeat the process if necessary. 

The Wrap-Up On Resetting a Mac Password

If Recovery will not load or the new password still fails, My Computer Works can help determine whether the problem involves the user account, startup system, keyboard, or macOS installation. 

So contact us today and let us help you reset your Mac password even if you’re in the unfortunate position of being locked out of your system. With years of experience helping Apple users, we have steps in place that we follow to provide you with a practical solution to your Apple woes as quickly as possible.