Reset your macOS user password

Author(s): Louis Ouellet

Forgetting your macOS user password can be frustrating, but rest assured, there’s a straightforward way to get back into your account. This guide will walk you through resetting your macOS user password using Recovery Mode.

To reset your macOS user password, you'll need to boot into Recovery Mode. Here's how you can do it:

1. Restart your Mac.
2. Press and hold + R as soon as you hear the startup sound.
3. Keep holding the keys until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
4. You'll see the macOS Utilities window. Select Utilities > Terminal from the menu bar.

1. Restart your Mac.
2. Press and hold the button until you see Loading startup options.
3. Select Options > Utilities > Terminal from the menu bar.

Once you're in Recovery Mode, you can reset your macOS user password using the Terminal. Here's how:

1. In the Terminal window, type:

   resetpassword

2. press Enter.

1. In the Reset Password utility, select your user account.
2. Enter a new password and a password hint.
3. Click Next and then Restart to reboot your Mac.

That's it! You've successfully reset your macOS user password. Remember to keep your password in a safe place or use a password manager to avoid this situation in the future.