Your password should always be unique to you. However, there may be times when you suspect your MacBook password has been compromised. It would be best if you did not dismiss the hunch, whether you did it knowingly or unknowingly. It would be best if you took precautions to keep yourself safe. One of those steps is to change your MacBook’s password.
When someone else has your MacBook password, they have unrestricted access to your PC. As a result, they have the same level of privilege as you and can access all of your files. If you need to give someone access to your MacBook, you have other options, such as creating a guest account or multiple user accounts. These options grant others limited access to your MacBook.
Here we cover easy steps to change your MacBook Air or Pro password.
How to Change Password on MacBook
Whatever the reason, changing your password is simple and quick. Here’s how to go about it:
- Go to the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
- Choose “Users & Groups.”
- Click the “Info” button to the right of your username.
- Select “Change password.”
- In the “Old Password” field, enter your current password.
- In the “New Password” field, enter your new password, then enter it again in the “Verify” field.
- To confirm the change, click the “Change password” button.
Meanwhile, there are other things you can do to prevent changing your MacBook password altogether. They include the following:
#1. Use Apple ID as a backup for Mac logins.
Those who can’t remember the password they’ve had for years, let alone the one they’re supposed to change every few months, can use their Apple ID as a backup if they forget the main MacBook lock screen passcode.
The following is how to access the Apple ID login backup feature:
- Navigate to the Apple icon on the lock screen.
- Try entering the wrong password three times. A small menu should appear with the option to reset your password using your Apple ID.
- Press the play button.
- Enter your Apple ID and password.
- Select Reset Password.
- Enter the new password and hint (something obscure this time), then click Reset Password again.
One thing to keep in mind is that your Mac login password is linked to your Keychain Access utility. So, if you save a lot of information in your keychain, you better remember that old password or all of it will be lost. So it might be a good idea to keep another hint for your Mac login password somewhere on your hard drive, just in case this happens.
#2. Remove the Password From the MacBook Lock Screen
If you know you’ll need to remember your Mac login; you should try to turn it off to avoid being locked out and losing your data. This is not recommended and will leave your Mac vulnerable, but it may be the only option in some cases.
To get around the Mac login password, do the following:
- Activate System Preferences Security and Privacy
- Uncheck the “Require password…” option in the General tab (if prompted, enter your password to unlock the changes).
No matter how long you’re gone, your Mac will now be unlocked.
How to Reset the Password on a MacBook
#1. Use your Apple ID to reset your Mac’s password
If you linked your Apple ID to your user account on your Mac during the initial setup, you should be able to reset your user password with a few clicks.
After entering the incorrect user password three times, you will be prompted to restart your computer to view the password recovery options. After it reboots, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID, select the user account for which you want to reset the password, and then enter a new password.
#2. Use Another Admin Account To Unlock Your Mac
If you share your Mac with friends or family members, you can reset their password for them. The key point here is that you must have access to an admin user account.
The person who initially sets up the Mac usually has an admin account by default. Still, you can check by logging in to your account, going to System Preferences > Users & Groups, and viewing the list of user accounts on your Mac. The account type will appear below the user name; if it says “Admin,” you can reset user passwords.
To do so, click on the lock from the same Users & Groups screen and, when prompted, enter your admin name and password. Next, select the user you want to reset the password, click the Reset Password button, and follow the instructions.
#3. Recovery Mode Is the Next Best Bet
If neither of those methods works, you’ll need to restart your Mac in Recovery Mode to access the password reset tool. I’ve discovered that turning off your Mac completely is the simplest way to accomplish this.
The process for entering Recovery Mode will then vary depending on the type of Mac you have. For Macs with Intel processors, hold down the Command and R keys on your keyboard before pressing the power button. Hold Command+R until you see a progress bar beneath the Apple logo. You can also enter Recovery Mode by restarting your Mac and trying to time the keyboard combination Command+R. However, starting with your Mac turned off is the most reliable method.
Turn off the computer and then press and hold the power button until you see an options button on the Macbook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini that use Apple’s M1 processor. Select Recovery after clicking on it. (For a more in-depth look at Recovery Mode on M1 Macs, click here.)
Now that your Mac is in Recovery Mode, go to the menu bar and select Utilities, then Terminal. A new window will appear, ready for you to enter a command. Enter “resetpassword” without the quotes as a single word and press Return.
Close the Terminal window, and then locate the Reset Password tool. Follow the prompts, which include signing in with your Apple ID and selecting the user account whose password must be changed.
How to Reset Your MacBook Password In a Nutshell:
Here’s how to get into Recovery Mode on an Intel-powered Mac:
- Switch off your computer.
- Hold down the power, Command, and R keys simultaneously.
- While your Mac boots into Recovery Mode, wait for the loading bar to appear on the screen.
Here’s how to get into Recovery Mode on an M1 Mac:
- Switch off your computer.
- Hold down the power button.
- Click “Options” and then choose “Continue.”
And here’s how to reset your Mac’s password in Recovery Mode:
- Select “Utilities” from the Apple menu.
- Choose “Terminal.”
- Enter “resetpassword” (as a single word) and press “Return.”
- Select your user account from the main hard drive.
- Reset your password and then press “Save.”
#4. Ensure FileVault is Enabled on your Mac
FileVault is a MacOS feature that encrypts your Mac’s hard drive and all stored data. It’s usually enabled during initial setup, but you can enable it later in System Preferences.
If FileVault is enabled, you have two additional options for resetting your user password. On the user login screen, you can wait up to a minute for a prompt to appear instructing you to press the power button to restart the Mac into Recovery mode. Follow the on-screen instructions to restart your computer, after which a Reset Password window should appear.
The Recovery Key, which you should have written down when you enabled FileVault, is another option. Let’s face it, most of us don’t, but if you did, you could enter the recovery key when prompted after three failed login attempts. Make sure to use uppercase letters and include the required hyphens.
Any methods we described are effective for regaining access to your account or if your child forgot their password. Of course, if you can use this to gain access to your Mac, so can anyone else who has access to it. You can avoid this by being more proactive during setup, such as storing recovery keys and remembering your password.
Additional Mac Security Tips
Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep your Mac safe.
- Enable FileVault. FileVault is a built-in macOS feature that encrypts data on your Mac’s hard drive and, as previously stated, provides a convenient way to reset your password in an emergency. Enabling FileVault adds an extra layer of security to your computer, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access.
- Make and employ password hints. A password hint is exactly what it sounds like: a reminder that assists the user in remembering their password. A hint can range from a single word that reminds you of your password to a full-fledged sentence, a string of characters, or anything else that aids in activating your associative memory. Your actual password should be excluded from your password hint.
- Passwords should be strong, unique, and complex but should be used sparingly. Only a strong and unique password will keep unauthorized users from accessing your Mac. The standard requirements for a strong password are as follows: at least 12 characters, a mix of upper- and lower-case letters, special symbols, and numbers. If you find password creation difficult and tedious, use the Password Generator, a tool designed to generate strong and unique passwords on the fly. Follow these guidelines to find some peace of mind.
How to Disable the Mac’s Sleep Password
Another time you’ll need to enter your password to get into your Mac is when you wake it up from sleep or need to unlock the screen after the screensaver has started.
- Lock Screen Launch in System Preferences System Configuration.
- Choose the Lock Screen pane.
- Set the time before entering your password by clicking the pop-up menu next to the next “Require password” option.
How to Unlock Your Mac Using Your Apple Watch
If you don’t want to turn off the password entirely, you can unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch if you have one. You’ll still have to enter your password the first time you boot up your Mac after shutting it down (unless you’ve configured it to log in automatically). However, you will not need to enter your password to wake it up; it will unlock automatically when it detects your Watch is nearby, and you are wearing it.
- Select Security & Privacy from the System Settings menu.
- Enable the unlock option for your Apple Watch in the section on the right.
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How To Change Password on MacBook: References
