Forgot Mac Password? See how to Reset Without Disk
If you have forgot Mac OS X account password then there is a tricky method which let you create a new administrator account on Mac OS X and through that admin account you can reset password of previous account.
So, let’s see how to create an administrator account on Mac while you lost your Mac passwords. This guide written using Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
Creating new Mac OS X account to recover old account
Step 1
Restart system and hold “Cmd + S” keys from keyboard until it shows Terminal.
Step 2
Now type the following commands one after one and press “Enter” button after each command to execute it individually
/sbin/mount -uaw
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
reboot
Step 3
“Reboot” command will restart the Mac and you will see the “Welcome wizard” after beautiful welcome messages animation.
Follow all the wizard instructions, until you see the following screen to create new account. Fill all entries and hit Continue button.
This will create a new administrator account and automatically log into it.
Reset old user account password
Now you can reset the password of your old Mac OS X account using this new account, here is the process.
Step-4
Click on “Apple icon” and then “System Preferences”
Click on “Account”s icon
Step-5
Here you can see all Mac OS X user accounts are listed, new account “TrickyWays” that we have created and “Susan” the old one that we want to recover.
Click on lock icon to enable prev. account “Susan” and reset its password.
Enter the Password of current user account and hit OK button
Step-6
Now your prev. account is enabled for changes, select that and hit the “Reset Password” button
Enter “New password”, “Password hint” and hit “Reset Password” button to reset account password.
Now log off and log in to your prev. account “Susan” and you can delete the account “TrickyWays” that we have created to recover prev. account “Susan”.
Leave a message below in comments.
see also how to reset Root password on Mac OS X or check out our Mac OS X section for more Mac Tricks
For more stuff like this you can: Subscribe to RSS Feed or Get Updates Via Email or Follow us on Twitter
Tags: forgot password, Mac, Mac OS, Mac OS X, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac Password, Mac User Password, password, Recover Mac Password, Reset Password, Snow Leopard
Share/Save this Post
Comments:
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Delete User Account on Mac | How to Remove an Account on Mac | Mac OS X
- Share Internet Connection of Mac | Sharing Mac Internet Connection | Mac OS X
- DARRYL
- How to Enable/Disable Root User on Mac | Mac OS X
- Access Mac Files from Windows 7 | Share Mac Files with Windows 7 | MS Windows
This is some type of hacking Mac computer and its really bad if in bad hands, but i Its useful for me i forgot my Mac password.
What a great resource!
it Worked!
Not working for me, i cant get passed:
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
it says:
No Such file or directory
never mind, i was adding a space befor the . THANKS!
Mac OS X Snow Leopard
which OS ver. you are using?
It worked!
i was following your directions, and when i got to entering the new password for the account i am trying to recover, it asks for a master password. so i tried typing in the one that i created earlier in your directions but it keeps saying the password is incorrect. what should i do?
thanks so much!
Can you tell me the exact step where its prompting for the password.
If its prompting on step-5 then enter the password of the user that you created in step-3 of wizard.
Feel free to reply.
it is happening at step six. one top of the new password space it asks for master password. so it looks like this:
master password:
new password:
verify:
password hint
i tried putting in the step three password for the master password and it says it is incorrect.
If your previous Mac account was protected by FileVault then you must enter the master password first to reset it. If you forgot the the master password i don’t thing there is any way to bring your account back b/c its encrypted by FileVault.
ok, is the master password the one i set for the filevault? i really appreciate the help!!
now, a new window comes up and it says
reset password failed.
CSSM_ERRCODE_MEMORY_ERROR.
what does this mean?
According to your comments with TrickyGuy so far i think FileValut was enabled on the account that you want to recover.
If FileValute is enabled on a Mac account its mean you have a Master Password as well and you have to enter this before editing any account information on Mac.
I must agree with the rest, I tried other methods to try to get my password reset with no luck. This worked exactly as explained. Thank you so much! I am bookmarking this site.
Not working for me, i cant get passed:
rm /var/db/ .applesetupdone
it says:
No Such file or directory
Don’t put space before “.applesetupdone”
write like this:
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
Feel free to reply.
I did the steps and it rebooted and no welcome screen?
The same thing happened to me. I got through the rebooting part fine, but when it restarted it led me directly back to my original desktop screen with no “Welcome” screen or any of the other steps?
I’m having the same problem in that I cannot get past the 2nd step. I’m typing in all of the “:/root” variations properly, then my system goes to reboot but the “Welcome” screen doesn’t come up; instead it goes directly back to my original desktop. What should I do?
this was excellent…worked perfectly…thx
I having problems with the first step do you restart the cumputer and press cmds or how ?
Yes, restart your Mac, press and hold the “cmd + S” both keys until it shows terminal
Does this effect my macbook warranty to break password?
this is not working
Its working fine. Can you tell me the error?
Thanks for the hint. My only complaint is the “digg tweet buzz etc. icon covers a fifth of my screen and it could not be harder to read the goddamn text.
What screen resolution you are using on your computer?
I wrote the commands and it worked perfectlly, but then the “step 3″ didn’t appear.
If you able to run command successfully then it must show the step3.
after reboot command this will show welcome intro, let the intro completes and get to the step3.
Does this work with MAC OS 9 or OS X only
I am not sure this will work with Mac OS 9, you can try to run the command at your own risk.
i dont have the apple keyboard.. i am using a wireless microsoft.. can i still do this???
I don’t have Microsoft wireless keyboard. But i think you can connect Microsoft keyboard with iPhone as well, because Bluetooth keyboards uses the standard method for identifying and connecting with other bluetooth devices.
loved it!
thanks, thanks!
Will this work on Mac OS X 10.4.11?
Does this erase everything currently installed? Or will it keep as is but just reset the password?
This will not delete anything, using this method create a new account and through that account you will recover your previous lost password account.
Very Very Very Very Helpful THANK YOU SO MUCH…PEACE
I TRIED THE FIRST STEP NUMEROUS OF TIMES AND IT TAKES ME TO ” CHOOSE YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM”, PAGE. CANT GET PAST IT. I RESTART AND HOLD COMMAND WITH THE S BUTTON, AND NOTHING. PLEASE HELP MUAHH!!!!!!!
I think you have installed dual Operating Systems and some kind of utility to select one OS at start-up. Remove this utility of see the utility documentation how to get into command terminal.
Delete what utility i keep pressing command s as well but it starts up regularly and nothing
Worked fine!
But:
On my leopard I had to do “/sbin/mount -uaw /”.
Also, the “/” moved to the “-” button since I have a non-us-keyboard.
This guide is written using OSX Snow Leopard. Which version you are you using, OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard?
This does work but 90% of the people replying to this should not be messing around in single user mode and would be MUCH better served booting with the original MacOS disk and using the “reset password” command there.
This is the most impressive trick I have tried on a Mac!
I was possible to change not only the pw but the language as well! Super-duper. Besides from that I could upgrade my 10.5 to 10.6- so now my old iMac is as new…J
Thanx alot for ur help
Docus
Hi trickyguy – followed your suggestions. Works up to step3 but instead of Welcome screen I get the Mac OS X “choose your language” screen and stays there no matter what I select. Any thoughts?
Can you send me the screenshot? Also tell me which Mac OS X version you are using?
My client has brought his Macbook with 3 sets of disks – 10.5, 10.4.7 and 10.6.1 “I was doing an upgrade and something went wrong and now I can’t login”. So that is why I was trying your trick to create a new supervisor password. As for a screen dump – the system won’t let me do anything – it just displays the language dialogue.
I’m having the same issue, any ideas on how to resolve?
Same problem here with 10.5.6 iBook G4, select a language, window disappears then re-appears a few seconds later for a language selection. I noticed the presence of a .AppleCustomMac in /var/db/ – could this be the trouble maker?
Thank you so much! This was a very easy to follow guide and worked like a charm. The administrator at work forgot the admin password and I was always frustrated that I couldn’t use the MAC side of my Macbook pro because that is why my company purchased the laptop for me in the first place. I must admit I was nervous to do this but after seeing the beautiful MAC flash page I was thrilled.
i did create a new user account but my laptop is now messed up it shows the apple and the wheel but after that it turns blue and then grey help me !!!!
OK it seems like your method works because the crowd is going all crazy. I just wanted to ask; will this method delete everything on my computer? So if I change the admin, will it format everything in everyone’s account?
This method just creates a new Admin level account to recover your previous account.
will this delete any of my data for my accounts?
omg. thank you SO much. this was SO helpful
This method worked great – until I turned the machine off. Now when I turn it on I get the Apple and the perpetually spinning wheel. I booted into single-user mode and attempted the process again but this time .applesetupdone could not be located. I’ve ran fsck several times and it tells me it appears ok.
Any suggestions?
No Deepfreeze. I have tried to boot from the original disc and as long as I hold “C” down it reboots over and over. If I release it I get the spinning wheel.
And if there is DeepFreeze on your computer?
No Deepfreeze. I have tried to boot from the original disc and as long as I hold “C” down it reboots over and over. If I release it I get the spinning wheel.
Hi, I followed steps 1-3 however step 3 keeps repeating itself, it does not automatically log in. Can you please assist? My mac is now unable to be used due to not being able to log in. Your assistance is greatly appreciated
hello
didn’t work for me, becuse the apple setup won’t go to the end.
how can i revert to the original login page ?
tx
jerome
I have the same problem too. can you please help me? did you fixed your MAC already?
Worked like a champ on a freeby-from-the-dump G4 with panther. The very clear instructions were a HUGE help to an Apple newby.
One’s first thought is ‘security hole’ but of course if someone can sit down at your computer and do this, he can simply remove your hard drive and do ‘whatever.’
its not working for me. after i reboot it i have to type in :/root# its not there
i have mac os x here in office, they just give me this Mac to use, the problem is the previous user set a password. i cannot use the Mac now because somebody lock it..
i follow the step that you advice here, the problem is the Command+S is not working.. it goes straight to Ask the password of the Admin user..
they also lost the CD/DVD of this Mac Os X.
HOw can i reset the password..
the Command+S is not working in me..
Is there a way to undo, my computer will not complete setup. so everytime I boot it just loops back to setup.
I reached the step 3 and already put the Password but when I click “continue” it restart to the welcome wizard and showed the start of the step 3. What am I going to do? thanks
BTW, I repeat it several times but it restart again and again.
really really great work.
i need help regestering it keeps saying phone and everytime i enter it doesnt take ten numbers
Thanks! I had a computer at the school that locked me out (I’m a teacher) and I was able to use this hack and get back in! Now I can use the computer, and so can my students!
I’ve followed this exactly but on reboot it returns to the sign on screen?
Thanks so much. Reseting the password worked on osX panther. You know,… the old multi colored tv looking apples. My daughter was trying to reset her password and did something wrong and reset it with a password that she didn’t even know! LOL. Anyway,… I thought that I would try your solve,… and it worked great! Thanks, Well done.
Shawn
command s does not work, always booting on user choice panel
What must I do ????
Is it possible that applejack or onyx cancel the command-s ???
great thanks
Thank you for this.
Thank you. It worked perfectly. You saved my day
Almost worked! Got thru step 3 after I figured out there was no space before the period of .applesetupdone. What happens after the reboot is the sign-in screen appears asking for a name and password. Nothing entered works to get past this point.
The reason I was looking into a password reset was because the iMac 27/3.06/4GB/1TB running 10.6.8 froze up when settings adjustments were being done to System Preferences/Accounts/Login Options. This iMac is part of a Windows Server network and Login Options were set to check a users ID against a DB in the server. If Name and Password matched, the user was “let in” to OSX. Once this thing froze, NO PASSWORD worked at all. 2 hours with AppleCare and 5 searching for a possible remedy like this have still not fixed it.
I think the resources which enable the Login and Login Options are so badly damaged that only a complete system installation can fix. I wish it weren’t so!
Anybody got through this one successfully?
A perfect advice for entire world to use this unified examples. Very beautifully recovered my system, using your tricky methods. Congratulation for you support. Thank you very much
the command s doesnt work for me. i keep holding it down but nothing happens can someone plzzzzz help me!!!!!!!!!!!
OMGOMG thankyouthankyou! i cant explain how thankful i am! i so desperately needed to get on my account, you are my ultiment life saver !!
I need to recover a password for a Mac is x 10.8 please help
Did the process and now when I turn the machine on it brings up a weird screen I’ve never seen with an apple in the middle and sings a song then it’s just stuck there please help
It will not work for me I have tried the Command S so many times durring reboot and powering on but it never goes to the terminal only the log in
you are the best …. work and i’m so happy … THANKS !!!!
I recently bought an iMac G5 at a surplus store. For some reason, Command + S doesn’t bring up the terminal as described. It keeps going to the login screen. I’ve tried holding down the keys until the screen comes up, and I’ve also tried repeatedly tapping them. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
Will this work with lion
Cheers Jonathan
Thank you! Everything works great. I’m on version 10.6.8 and it works fine to reset the password. Thanks
can i still use these steps for my imac?
It works!!!
I have successfully completed all the steps to reset the admin account,
However when i am asked to set up my new account the keyboard doesn’t allow me to type my information, is there a keyboard lock or another code necessary to enable typing?
Matt,
I’ve run into the same problem… how did you get passed this?
I can’t get past the wireless network screen, the wheel keeps spinning!
I’m pressing command+S but it not showing anything, Could anyone help me please.
This worked perfectly for me. I’ve been dealing with this issue for a very long time now. Nothing else ever worked. Thank you so much for the help!!!
Thank You Thank YOu Thank You…. I just had to reset my password and this worked perfect on the first try…
I tried different ideas to recover Mac password with no Luck, yours was the best Good Work!
Flawless