Have you forgotten your Mac login password? Did you recover it? In this article, I’m going to show you How to Reset macOS High Sierra Password on MacBook Pro, Air, and iMac. If you don’t remember your MacBook password, and you forget it again and again so, this is the right place that wants to help you to reset your forgotten Mac password without losing any data.
Reset macOS High Sierra Password without Losing Data
These are the best and easy way to reset macOS High Sierra password without losing any data. Remembering lots passwords are complicated and challenging. If you don’t get your passwords, so there is some good software that will help you to use them. The very famous software for Mac users is 1Password. You can add your all account password here safe.
Related Guide: Reset macOS Sierra Admin Password on MacBook Pro, Air
Related Guide: Reset Mac OS X El Capitan Password on MacBook Pro, Air
Method #1. Reset macOS Password Using Recovery Mode
This process is very straightforward and easy. You don’t need anything. No, bootable USB for macOS and no macOS DVD. Apple includes a Utility to reset an administrator’s password on every install Recovery HD partition. To use the Reset Password app, you’ll need to start your Mac using either the install DVD or the Recovery HD.
Step #1. First, Restart your computer and then press and hold Command+R until the Apple logo should appear. It means that you boot your device in Recovery Mode.
Command Plus R
Step #2. On the welcome window choose the language then hit at Continue arrow button.
Click Continue
Step #3. A new window will be shown to you and navigate to Utilities Tab> Terminal.
Terminal
Step #4. When you clicked on Terminal, start typing the below command.
resetpassword
Resetpassword
Step #5. Choose the username then click Next.
Select User Account
Step #6. Type New Password with an appropriate hint that should not forget next time. Keep in mind that verify the password. It means you should enter the password for two times. Now click Next.
Enter the New Password
Step #7. Your user account password has been reset. Now you can reboot your computer to sign in with the new password. Click Restart.
Reset Your System
Step #8. Type your new password then hit Enter.
Login to your Account
The System was Unable to Unlock your Login Keychain
If you remember your old password, you can update the keychain password. If you don’t remember your old password, you can create a new login keychain or choose to leave the login keychain using a different password. You have this three options. I recommend you to Create New Keychain.
Create a New Keychain
Method #2. Create New Admin Account to Reset the Old One
Most of the Mac users don’t know how to reset forgotten Mac OS password, so when they don’t remember the password, simply change the operating system. I think it’s not a correct way because they might lose their data that don’t want to lose. Again they believe that there is not any way to reset the password. Don’t worry about losing data or personal files. Because we are going to show a simple way to reset Mac forgotten password.
Step #1. Restart your Mac computer then press and hold on the Command+S from the keyboard.
Command Plus S
Step #2. You’ll be promoted to a black colored screen with white color text. So type the following commands after one another.
mount -uw /rm /var/db/.applesetupdoneshutdown -h now
Enter Command
Step #3. Once your system is restarted, don’t touch any key then let it boot normally.
Step #4. When the system boots, you will see the installation process when you setup MacOS for the first time.
Choose Country
Step #5. Create a new user account. If you don’t know, click here.
Step #6. Once you login to your new account, navigate to Apple logo> Preferences> Users & Groups.
Users and Groups
Step #7. Click the “Lock” icon then enter your “Username” and “Password”.
Enter the Account Password
Step #8. Choose the old user then click on “Reset Password“.
Step #9. Type the new password and verify it. If you would like to enter a hint just type and click “Change Password”.
Change Password
Now, log out of your account and navigate to your old account with the new password you have created in step #9.
Login into your old Account
Conclusion
With these two easy steps, you can reset forgotten macOS High Sierra 10.13 password. Just Create a new user and reset the old user password. You don’t need to know what the password was. Follow this step by step guide. If you have any question feel free to comment below this post and we will try to the response it within 24 hours. Thanks for being with us.
Clair Staley
Thank you, Mukhtar. Method #1 worked like a charm!
Mukhtar Jafari
Good luck man
iguruservices
You may want to read more on resetting Mac admin password also at https://iguruservices.com/support/reset-mac-admin-password/ they have also put in all the possible steps together so nicely.
Mukhtar Jafari
Thank you for sharing this piece of information with other visitors.
Wuke anto
Hi sir, i tried your 2nd option. However after creating it, i dont see ‘my original’ user in Sytem Preferences-Users &groups.
I can see ‘my dummy’ user as my only current user. Did i miss something in the process?
Mukhtar Jafari
We’ve been testing this on several versions of macOS and it worked very well. I’m not sure what you’ve done.
Follow this video guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaANpIgyNMk
Nicholas
Hi sir，
I try to do both and in process one the iMac reset password pop up instead of select user
In process two the file is not there, any other way.
scott
Hi. I have a related problem. I forgot my mac password and since reset my icloud password. when I try logging in via icloud password it keeps asking for the old one!
Will the steps you’ve highlighted above also solve this issue?
Mukhtar Jafari
I’m not sure about this issue
Jeruss Berdin
I tried changing my Admin name and password, I think I made a mistake during the process. Now I can’t change the settings of my computer. Is there another way to change my admin name and password?
Mukhtar Jafari
Right now we knew only these two methods.
Nyben
hello again
when i was setting up the new user,
the system assed for a password for the Boot volume,
what was that about ?
can you tell please?
Mukhtar Jafari
I’m not sure this never happened to me and I didn’t realize what can be the problem.
Nyben
thnaks so much for this
i just used this to reset my password after updating to High sierra
thanks so so much again
Mukhtar Jafari
You’re Welcome
gmotv
I’m not having any luck using cmd+s. I can’t seem to get the commands to do anything, I just keep getting rebooted to the normal login screen. The setup assistant ever launches. Any ideas?
Mukhtar Jafari
You can use the First method.
Restart your device and Press and Hold CMD+R and follow other necessary steps from the guide.
Don Wagaman
When I attempt to reset password as you describe, my screen requires the old (lost) password! HELP
OS 10.13.2 on a MacBook Pro
Mukhtar Jafari
You must’ve created a New Keychain.
John
So if I method 2 i will not lose my old keychain
Mukhtar Jafari
In both ways, you’ll not lose your data. But be careful while running the code.
Janvrin
Hi,
Thank you, but it’s not working for me, after login to my old session, It still asking for password. None works. Then when I restart my computer, It seems like nothing been changed. Getting tired of this. After a lot of tries, with other website, I found your method with better explanation. But still can’t fix the problem. Any more tip. Thank you
Mukhtar Jafari
Did you try both ways? Once watch this video guide. It might help you to sort out your problem.
Nabraj
Thank you so much for your help
Mukhtar Jafari
You’re welcome
Cynthia August
Sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar.
Sincerely, the woman who is no longer screaming.
Mukhtar Jafari
Thank you so much and stay up to date with us on wikigain.com
anthony
did method number 2 allow to find your files back on desktop ?
Mukhtar Jafari
You’ll not lose anything.
Marcelo
Very good explanation! It works very nice with a MAC Pro (late 2010) that I’ve just updated to High Sierra (It blows my adm password user).
Very good job!
Mukhtar Jafari
Welcome and have fun
oscar
thanks for this perfect tip.
inwas using an empty password, but that no longer worked on Sierra High … scared me to death.
this worked and everything is restored.
Mukhtar Jafari
Wow! that’s pretty cool man. These two ways work on most of the Apple’s MacBook and iMac.
Jeff Hamilton
Just updated to High Sierra grand master and it blew out my password – Arrgh. Quick google search and found your site. Great explanation and procedure – worked great. Nice that Apple has this ability to reset as long as you have your apple account. Thanks, again.
Faiz Orz
Welcome and thank you for sharing your feedback.