

- #How to reset administrator password for mac how to#
- #How to reset administrator password for mac mac os x#
- #How to reset administrator password for mac mac os#
- #How to reset administrator password for mac install#
- #How to reset administrator password for mac update#
#How to reset administrator password for mac mac os x#
Newer versions of Mac OS X may prompt about this problem at startup otherwise you’ll need to delete the keychain and start it over again, using these steps:

Since the keychain is protected by the now-forgotten administrator password, there’s no way to get back into it.
#How to reset administrator password for mac update#
Reset Login Keychain Password - No matter which of these methods you use to reset a forgotten administrator password, it won’t update the password protecting the account’s login keychain, which stores all of the user’s passwords. Which you should use depends on the specific version of Mac OS X, and how the Mac is set up.īut first, there’s an important caveat about any of these methods, related to the login keychain. Let’s explore all the options to reset a password. Starting with 10.7 Lion, you could still call on all those options, but Apple added a method so easy that even an inexperienced user can do it - the Apple ID-based password reset. Because she also couldn’t find the original system CDs that shipped with her iMac, I had to resort to some advanced techniques few home users would ever be able to figure out.

Several years ago, I was helping a client upgrade her Mac running Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, but she couldn’t remember her administrator password. This article is over four years old and some details have changed.įor up-to-date help, read “ Three Ways to Reset a Lost Admin Password in High Sierra” (5 July 2018).
#How to reset administrator password for mac install#
If you don't have the install disc or need more help, I'd suggest booking an appointment at the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store and they will help you reset it at no charge.
#How to reset administrator password for mac how to#
There is a support article on the Apple website with info on how to reset the password here: Once you have admin access you can create or delete accounts. Once you have changed the password you will be prompted to create a new Keychain, which is the name of the place where these other passwords are saved. Resetting the password does not delete any of the information on the Mac, but it will prevent you from gaining access to other passwords that are saved in the system for things like mail accounts or wifi keys that have previously been entered and saved by the original user. It is possible to reset the admin password to a Mac quite easily providing you have the correct install disc to match the version of the software that is running on the computer.
