MAC - Use Recovery Mode to reset your password and now M1 Chip

Linux and Mac OS based issues
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RescuePC
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:48 pm

MAC - Use Recovery Mode to reset your password and now M1 Chip

Post by RescuePC »

MAC - Use Recovery Mode to reset your password
Lost Admin Password - reset it
  • Turn off your Mac (choose Apple > Shut Down).
  • Press the power button while holding down Command + R. The Mac will boot into Recovery (we have a separate article about how to boot a Mac in Recovery).
  • When you see the load bar appear you can let go of the keys. It may take a few minutes to load.
  • Select Disk Utility and press Continue.
  • Choose Utilities > Terminal.
  • Enter resetpassword (all one word, lower-case letters) and press Return.
  • Select the volume containing the account (normally this will be your main hard drive).
  • Choose the account to change with Select the User Account.
  • Enter a new password and re-enter it into the password fields.
  • Enter a new password hint related to the password.
  • Click Save.
A warning will appear that the password has changed, but not the Keychain Password. Click OK.
  • Click Apple > Shut Down.
M1 Chip
  • Shut down your MacBook Air (M1, 2020).
  • Press and hold the power button (Touch ID) until the screen says "Loading startup options".
  • Choose Options, then click Continue.
  • If you're prompted for an admin password, choose "Forgot all passwords?". If you're prompted to authenticate with your Apple ID, do so to continue.
  • You should now see a window with four options: Restore from Time Machine, Install macOS, Safari, Disk Utility. Don't choose any of these; instead, go to the menu bar at the top of the screen and click on Utilities. Then, choose Terminal.
  • Type "resetpassword" without the quotes and hit Enter (Return).
  • If FileVault is disabled, you should be able to reset your password without issue
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