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How to reset the password on a Mac.

  1. How to reset the password on a Mac., Start your Mac in Single-User Mode: step 1, image 1 of 1
    • Shut down your Mac

    • Press and hold the Command + S keys immediately after pressing the power button to turn on your Mac.

    • It is best to start holding the keys before the screen turns on or you hear the startup chime. If you see the Apple logo, then you need to shut down and to do this step over. Except on a Mac with a T2 chip, the Apple logo will always appear the second the computer turns on.

    • You should see a black screen with white text.

  2. How to reset the password on a Mac., Mount root device as read-write: step 2, image 1 of 1
    • When the text stops, you should see a line that says "localhost:/ root#" at the bottom. If you don't see "localhost:/ root#", press enter.

    • Type in "mount -uw"

    • Some more text will appear on the screen. when you see the "localhost:/ root#"at the bottom, continue to the next step

  3. How to reset the password on a Mac., Remount the .AppleSetupDone file: step 3, image 1 of 1
    • Type in, "rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone" and press enter/ return

    • This is case sensitive since it is a file name.

    • There must be a space in between the rm and / otherwise you will get a "no such file or directory" error

    • This method WILL NOT work if FileVault is enabled on the startup disk.

  4. How to reset the password on a Mac., Override root/wheel for /var/db/.AppleSetupDone: step 4, image 1 of 1
    • If you get a message that says "override r------- root/wheel for /var/db/.AppleSetupDone?", type in "y" and press enter/return.

    • You may get an error that says, "rm: /var/db/.AppleSetupDone: read-only file system.

    • If you don't see a message that says "override r------- root/wheel for /var/db/.AppleSetupDone?", then continue to the next step.

  5. How to reset the password on a Mac., Reboot computer: step 5, image 1 of 1
    • Type in "reboot" and press enter/return.

  6. How to reset the password on a Mac., Setup your Mac: step 6, image 1 of 2 How to reset the password on a Mac., Setup your Mac: step 6, image 2 of 2
    • Your Mac will now reboot to the Setup Assistant. you can now set up your Mac.

  7. How to reset the password on a Mac., Congratulations: step 7, image 1 of 2 How to reset the password on a Mac., Congratulations: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • You have now created a new user account with full administrator access. And all the user accounts created prior to this remain untouched

Elijah

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