Do you have a problem where your memory fails you as to remembering your Mac’s password? Don’t break too much sweat over it. Making use of the default settings, you for sure can be able to with ease try logging into your Mac. If you happen to fail enough times then the ability to reset your password with your Apple ID may come within your reach. You can’t say this is always the case though.
In the case where you haven’t enabled FileVault disk encryption, you could access an easy password-reset tool. If you have gone about enabling FileVault disk encryption and you wish to forsake your encrypted files, you can simply go through the reinstallation of the Mac OS X and begin the process again.
If you have forgotten your Mac Password
Reset Your Password Using Your Apple ID
This trick would be compatible if you’ve connected your Mac account with an Apple ID. It will go through in the condition where you haven’t set up FileVault disk encryption, or possibly if you had set up FileVault disk encryption and had Mac OS X keeping your recovery key in your iCloud account. This happens to be the default option. But then note that it will certainly not work if you have enabled FileVault and didn’t store your recovery key with your iCloud account,
In the case where you have lost memory of your password, simply try entering the wrong password three times at the sign-in screen. Following the entrance of the three wrong answers, you will get to see a “If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID” message. Move on to click the button and enter your Apple ID details so as to go about resetting your password.
The Recovery Key is a Safety Key
Enter Your FileVault Recovery Key
If you’ve enabled FileVault disk encryption and may be it happened that you failed to store your recovery key in your iCloud account, the FileVault setup tool provided you with a recovery key and then informed you to print it out or write it down maybe store it somewhere where you could fetch it if needed. This — in exclusion of the password — is then the only thing that could decrypt the files stored on your Mac and then hand you access in to them.
Taking the assumption that you are in possession of this recovery key, you could type the recovery key into the password field on the login screen. This process would prompt the decryption of your Mac’s storage and then consequently sign in you in. From when you gotten signed in, you could go about changing the password from the basic Users & Groups tool in the System Settings window.
If you have forgotten your Mac Password
Reset the Password From OS X Recovery (If You’re Not Using FileVault Encryption)
Also in the condition where you haven’t enabled FileVault encryption, you have a comfortable means to reset any user account’s password. What you simply need is to restart your Mac and hold Command + R while it’s booting. This very procedure will enable the booting of your Mac into a special recovery mode, also referred to as OS X Recovery.
From OS X Recovery, you get within the access of a concealed password reset tool and make use of it to change any user account’s password on the Mac. This is one big justification why you should enable FileVault encryption on your Mac — it sets a bar abhorring people from entering the password and gaining access.
In the rare circumstance that you’ve enabled a UEFI firmware password on your Mac, you would be unable to gain access to OS X Recovery except when you remember that password. You will not be able to remove that UEFI firmware password unless visiting an Apple Store — at least this works theoretically. This contributes significantly in barring thieves from just erasing the UEFI password of a MacBook after they could have stolen it.
Put in your Apple ID
Sign In As Another User (If You Are Using FileVault Encryption)
If you are in possession of user accounts exceeding one on your Mac and are using FileVault encryption, attempt logging in as the other user account. In the scenario where you have given that other user account permission to decrypt your Mac with its password, you would be allowed to sign in and then gain access to a desktop. There you could create a new user account or possibly retrieve access to your old user account.
Reinstall Mac OS X (If You Are Using FileVault Encryption)
Should there be a UEFI password on your Mac, you won’t be allowed to access OS X Recovery so as to reset the password or possibly embark on the reinstallation of the Mac OS X without that password. You come to face a big lock icon appear on your screen and a box to type your password when you make an attempt to boot into recovery mode or say when you boot from an external device.
This is a entirely a different password from your user account’s password, so there is the chance that you remember this one. But if you don’t, the sole means to potentially go about the removal of that UEFI password is to take your Mac to an Apple Store.
There could be some kind of attack that gives an attacker the chance to bypass a UEFI password, but according to the supposedly theoretical setup, only Apple can go about removing an unknown UEFI password.
Should you not remember your Apple ID (iCloud) password, Apple’s website provides an Apple ID password reset tool that might be assist you in this regard.
