Mac OS is one of the most secured operating system provided by Apple. The protection mechanism is akin to all other operating systems, but the registry files accountable for creating the security barriers are a bit different, rather crude to bypass. So if you have forgotten your password on iMac or Macbook, it might be a bit difficult way ahead for you to access the system again if you don't have the knowledge of the convoluted operating system.
Generally, besides login, Mac password is used for various other reasons, such as, during installing softwares, rendering serious changes in the system settings, or while deleting system files. But here we would confine our excursus on how to bypass the Mac OS password to gain access into the system. The discussion hereby would involve 3 essential methods which would help you inevitably to resolve your issue.
When you access a website, email account, network server, or other password-protected item, you can choose to save the password in your keychain so you don't have to remember or enter the password each time. Each user on a Mac has a login keychain. The password for your login keychain matches the password you use to log in to your Mac. 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. On your Mac, choose Apple menu System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
Method #1: Password Hint for Your Mac Login Password
Before you proceed with resetting your password anew, and replace it with a new one, you better try out the password hint which might refresh your memory after a while. In fact there is no limit to the number of times you can enter the password hint, and after 3 attempts Mac OS will provide you the password hint (Password Hint is a phrase or sentence extract which you had entered into the hint box while setting up the password in the first place). Infuse the steps mentioned below to carry out the method accurately:
Step 1. Firstly open 'System Preferences' from the 'Apple' logo.
Step 2. Select 'Users and Groups' category.
Step 3. From the bottom left corner, click on the 'Lock screen' icon.
Step 4. Press the 'Return' key 3 times in a row. The screen will shake every time you press the 'Return' key. After the third shake, the password hint will be displayed below the 'Password field' which you can use to try out your luck.
The best part about this method is that there is no limit to the number of password trials, so you can keep trying until you get to recall it fully. But if the method is not helping you anyway, then you better skip to the next methods refined ahead.
For windows user: How to bypass Windows 10/8/7 login password
Method #2: Change Password from Another Account
If you have set up multiple accounts in your device, or share your device with another user which might have created another account in the same system, then you can use this separate account to change the password of your own locked down account.
The steps are laid out as follows:
Step 1. Click on Apple's logo and then choose log out from the top left corner.
Step 2. Select an account you know the password to and enter the password thereby to gain access to the account.
Taxes and shipping not included and subject to your standard purchase APR. Rates as of April 1, 2020. See for more information about eligible products. Variable APRs range from 10.99% to 21.99% based on creditworthiness. Mac ipad 2nd screen.
Step 3. Go to 'System Preferences' and click on the 'Lock' icon at the bottom left corner of the screen.
Step 4. Enter your password again and then choose the specific account that you have forgotten your password for from the side pane.
Step 5. Now; click 'Reset Password' and fill up the fields and the 'Password hint' field.
Step 6. Finally click 'Change Password'.
And you are done! You can now access the account with the newly created password.
Also read: 2 ways to boot your Mac into safe mode
Method #3: Use Recovery Mode to Recover Mac Password
Besides providing all the essential luster to the fundamentals of the operating system, Apple provides a tool, that is 'Recovery Mode' for Mac OS or Mac OS X, depending upon which version you are currently using, you can use it to recover your forgotten Mac login or admin password.
Step 1. Press the power button of your device and while doing so press and hold the 'Command-R'. This way Mac will boot into the Recovery Mode. Once the load bar is visible you can let go of your hold of the buttons.
Step 2. It will take a few minutes to load, and after it is loaded, choose the 'Disk utility' and press 'Continue'.
Step 3. Go to 'Utilities' and then select 'Terminal'.
Step 4. Now; in the empty field, enter 'resetpassword' just in the exact manner and press 'Return'.
Step 5. Choose the Volume which is your main hard drive containing the account.
Step 6. Now; select the account you wish to change the password of by 'Select the User Account'.
Step 7. Enter your password and re-enter it for confirmation.
Step 8. Enter a password hint for future use and click 'Save' to save the changes.
Step 9. A warning would appear notifying that the password has been changed but not the Keychain password. Click 'Ok' to finish.
Step 10. Finally, click on 'Apple' logo and then 'Shut Down'.
Now, start your Mac OS and enter the previous account with the new password.
Conclusion:
Password Protect Mac Zip File
As you can see all the mentioned methods above in the article are very easy to put to use if you have the basic expertise of how to handle an Apple device. Out of all the methods, recalling the password using Password Hint is a very tedious and time consuming method, and at some point of time may prove to be futile, thus Recovery Mode is the best option that you can heed to reset your forgotten password. Hope you had a great time knowing the ways to recover your login password on iMac or Macbook.
Read more:
If your Mac is connected to the Internet but suddenly starts asking for your password, you should generally try again later, and if necessary work with your email provider to resolve. If you're using Apple's iCloud Mail, learn how to resolve issues with iCloud Mail.
Why is Mail asking for your password?
Mail asks for your password when it is connecting to your email provider, but can't connect to your email account because your email provider isn't accepting your email password.
Your email provider may reject your password for several reasons, including:
- You're not using your current email password. If you updated the password on another device, make sure that you're using the same password on your Mac.
- Your email provider needs you to update or reset your password for security reasons. For example, if you're using Google's two-step verification, your Gmail account in Mail requires the appropriate app-specific password.
- Your email provider deactivated or suspended your account. Contact your email provider for help.
Word For Mac Password Protect Document
Check your password in Internet Accounts preferences
Depending on the type of email account you're using, you might be able to correct the password as follows:
- Quit Mail. If it doesn't quit, you can force it to quit.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Internet Accounts.
- Select your mail account in the sidebar.
- If you see a password field for your account, delete the password and type the correct password.
- Close System Preferences, then open Mail and try using your account again.
If Mail still asks for your password, the password is probably incorrect. Your email provider can help you verify your email settings and make sure that you're using the correct password.
Step 2. Select an account you know the password to and enter the password thereby to gain access to the account.
Taxes and shipping not included and subject to your standard purchase APR. Rates as of April 1, 2020. See for more information about eligible products. Variable APRs range from 10.99% to 21.99% based on creditworthiness. Mac ipad 2nd screen.
Step 3. Go to 'System Preferences' and click on the 'Lock' icon at the bottom left corner of the screen.
Step 4. Enter your password again and then choose the specific account that you have forgotten your password for from the side pane.
Step 5. Now; click 'Reset Password' and fill up the fields and the 'Password hint' field.
Step 6. Finally click 'Change Password'.
And you are done! You can now access the account with the newly created password.
Also read: 2 ways to boot your Mac into safe mode
Method #3: Use Recovery Mode to Recover Mac Password
Besides providing all the essential luster to the fundamentals of the operating system, Apple provides a tool, that is 'Recovery Mode' for Mac OS or Mac OS X, depending upon which version you are currently using, you can use it to recover your forgotten Mac login or admin password.
Step 1. Press the power button of your device and while doing so press and hold the 'Command-R'. This way Mac will boot into the Recovery Mode. Once the load bar is visible you can let go of your hold of the buttons.
Step 2. It will take a few minutes to load, and after it is loaded, choose the 'Disk utility' and press 'Continue'.
Step 3. Go to 'Utilities' and then select 'Terminal'.
Step 4. Now; in the empty field, enter 'resetpassword' just in the exact manner and press 'Return'.
Step 5. Choose the Volume which is your main hard drive containing the account.
Step 6. Now; select the account you wish to change the password of by 'Select the User Account'.
Step 7. Enter your password and re-enter it for confirmation.
Step 8. Enter a password hint for future use and click 'Save' to save the changes.
Step 9. A warning would appear notifying that the password has been changed but not the Keychain password. Click 'Ok' to finish.
Step 10. Finally, click on 'Apple' logo and then 'Shut Down'.
Now, start your Mac OS and enter the previous account with the new password.
Conclusion:
Password Protect Mac Zip File
As you can see all the mentioned methods above in the article are very easy to put to use if you have the basic expertise of how to handle an Apple device. Out of all the methods, recalling the password using Password Hint is a very tedious and time consuming method, and at some point of time may prove to be futile, thus Recovery Mode is the best option that you can heed to reset your forgotten password. Hope you had a great time knowing the ways to recover your login password on iMac or Macbook.
Read more:
If your Mac is connected to the Internet but suddenly starts asking for your password, you should generally try again later, and if necessary work with your email provider to resolve. If you're using Apple's iCloud Mail, learn how to resolve issues with iCloud Mail.
Why is Mail asking for your password?
Mail asks for your password when it is connecting to your email provider, but can't connect to your email account because your email provider isn't accepting your email password.
Your email provider may reject your password for several reasons, including:
- You're not using your current email password. If you updated the password on another device, make sure that you're using the same password on your Mac.
- Your email provider needs you to update or reset your password for security reasons. For example, if you're using Google's two-step verification, your Gmail account in Mail requires the appropriate app-specific password.
- Your email provider deactivated or suspended your account. Contact your email provider for help.
Word For Mac Password Protect Document
Check your password in Internet Accounts preferences
Depending on the type of email account you're using, you might be able to correct the password as follows:
- Quit Mail. If it doesn't quit, you can force it to quit.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Internet Accounts.
- Select your mail account in the sidebar.
- If you see a password field for your account, delete the password and type the correct password.
- Close System Preferences, then open Mail and try using your account again.
If Mail still asks for your password, the password is probably incorrect. Your email provider can help you verify your email settings and make sure that you're using the correct password.
Test using webmail
Many email providers offer webmail, which is a way to use email with a web browser such as Safari, instead of with an email app such as Mail. For example, if you're using an iCloud Mail account, you can use iCloud.com to send and receive email.
Because the password that you use with Mail is usually the same password that you use with webmail, try signing in to webmail with that password. If it doesn't work there either, your password is probably incorrect. Your email provider can help you verify your email settings and make sure that you're using the correct password for the Mail app.
Remove your account, then add it back
If no other solutions work, try setting up your email account again. To do that, first remove your email account, then add the account back.
Learn more
- If you're using Apple's iCloud Mail, learn how to resolve issues with iCloud Mail. The password that you use with iCloud Mail is your Apple ID password. Learn what to do if you forgot your Apple ID password or want to change your Apple ID password.
- If you forgot or want to change the email password for a different email service, contact the email provider or request a password reset from their website.
