If you’ve somehow locked yourself out of your Mac and can’t remember the password, or you have recently purchased a used Mac from someone and don’t know the password, don’t fret. There is a way – actually, two ways – you can change the password without knowing the existing one. If you have your Installer Disk, use Option 1. If you don’t have the disk, use Option 2. This should work on all Macs.

Option 1

On older versions of OS X, Apple let you use your Apple ID password as your Mac's unlock option, which automatically changed whenever you changed the password on your Apple ID. That said, you don't have to use your Apple ID password to unlock your Mac. In fact, it's not really a good idea. Reset password with Apple ID. If you have an Apple ID tied to your user account on Mac, you can use it to reset password from the login window. The option should be available by default. Otherwise, you can enable it in System Preferences Users & Groups Allows user to reset password using Apple ID. This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes only. Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations captured in an electronic forum and Apple can therefore provide no guarantee as to the. How to change an encrypted volume's password in OS X. While encrypting and decrypting a volume can be done on the fly, the option for changing its password is a bit hidden. Since Mac OS X 10.4, Apple allows system administrators to change one admin password from another admin account. IT pros welcome this because it allows them to easily help less experienced users without having to resort to using more time-consuming Mac password reset methods.

The easiest way to change the password is to use the Installer Disk that came with your computer. Insert it into your drive. Close the dialog box that opens, and then restart your Mac. When you hear the chime, press and hold down the Option key until you see the “Boot” screen.

Using your arrow keys, move the selection box over to the image of the disk and press Enter. This will instruct your Mac to load the disk, and it could take a few minutes. Be patient.

Once loaded, you can use the arrow keys to choose the language and hit Enter.

How To Change The Password For Mac

In the top left-hand corner you’ll see a file menu. Click on Utilities -> Reset Password. Then click on Mac HD and choose which User password you want to change. Type in your new password and hit Save.

The final step requires you to restart: go to the menu at the top of the screen and click on “Mac OS X Installer” and then click “Quit mac OS X Installer” and then click “Restart“. Once your Mac restarts, you should be able to use the new password.

Option 2

If you don’t have the disk, don’t worry, there is a way to reset the password without the Installer Disk. It just involves a little coding. Don’t panic, it’s easy!

Reset Apple Password On Computer

Shut down your Mac. Hold Command + S as you press the Power button. This loads your Mac so you’ll see a command line. Type in the lines below, exactly as shown. Hit Enter after each line.

/sbin/mount -uw /

launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.Apple.DirectoryServices.plist

Next, type in the command below, but where it says “username password” type in the name of the user, then a space, then the new password.

dscl . -passwd /Users/username password

So, for example, mine is

dscl . -passwd /Users/Berry 7711gjk (username Berry, space, then password 7711gjk)

Type in “exit” then hit Enter.

Can't Remember Mac Administrator Password

Your Mac should load the login screen. Click on the user you just changed and log in with your new password.

How To Change The Password For Mac High Sierra

Congratulations, you’ve just reset your password without knowing the old one! If you need a video tutorial, there are several on YouTube.

How To Change The Password For Macbook Pro

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The commission help keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!