How do I reset my admin password?

[1969]

I need to reset my administrator password.

My Adobe Flash Player requires updating but when I try it asks me for a password. I have been told it is my Mac's administrator password that it is requiring.

My Mac was set up for me by someone who is now dead and I had no idea that they had set a password. I therefore need to reset the password.

I am A VERY BASIC USER and my fear is that any complicated resetting or rebooting, etc will not work and the whole Mac will be rendered useless.

Can anyone please help with a simple answer on how to either reset the password that is fool proof or to tell me if I need to take it to a store for a reset please?

I have a MacBook Pro (Software is Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5)

Thanks people.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

It might be a bit complicated, since you need a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion installer on a USB flash storage thumb drive or DVD.

If you want to make a bootable installation medium, you can follow these steps:

• Lion DiskMaker

• Create bootable installation medium for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
​

 

[1969]

It might be a bit complicated, since you need a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion installer on a USB flash storage thumb drive or DVD.

If you want to make a bootable installation medium, you can follow these steps:

• Lion DiskMaker

• Create bootable installation medium for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
​

Thanks but this may as well be written in Russian for all the sense it makes, sorry.

The only way i will be able to do this myself is if someone can write.

1. Do this

2. Do this

and so on...

I do not have any discs, boxes, instructions or information from when I bought the Mac just over a year ago.

Sorry to be so demanding i'm not a techno-phobe i'm just a bit techno-slow!

 

[Weaselboy]

I need to reset my administrator password.

My Adobe Flash Player requires updating but when I try it asks me for a password. I have been told it is my Mac's administrator password that it is requiring.

My Mac was set up for me by someone who is now dead and I had no idea that they had set a password. I therefore need to reset the password.

I am A VERY BASIC USER and my fear is that any complicated resetting or rebooting, etc will not work and the whole Mac will be rendered useless.

Can anyone please help with a simple answer on how to either reset the password that is fool proof or to tell me if I need to take it to a store for a reset please?

I have a MacBook Pro (Software is Mac OS X Lion 10.7.5)

Thanks people.

It is quite simple. Do a command-r boot and this will take you to a recovery screen. Launch Terminal from the Utilities menu then type "resetpassword" (without the quotes) and hit enter. Now pick your account and enter a new password.

 

[1969]

It is quite simple. Do a command-r boot and this will take you to a recovery screen. Launch Terminal from the Utilities menu then type "resetpassword" (without the quotes) and hit enter. Now pick your account and enter a new password.

Sorry but how do I do a command-r boot?

 

[Weaselboy]

Sorry but how do I do a command-r boot?

Shut off your Mac. Then hit the power button to turn it on and as soon as you hear the chime sound press the command and r keys at the same time. That will force it to boot to the recovery screen.

 

[MacUser2525]

Thanks but this may as well be written in Russian for all the sense it makes, sorry.

The only way i will be able to do this myself is if someone can write.

1. Do this

2. Do this

and so on...

I do not have any discs, boxes, instructions or information from when I bought the Mac just over a year ago.

Sorry to be so demanding i'm not a techno-phobe i'm just a bit techno-slow!

1. Turn on machine hold down the s key.
2. Once at the text boot prompt the # sign should be there type in then hit enter key, passwd YOUR_USERNAME.
3. Type in then hit enter key, reboot.

That should have reset the password to the new one you put in when asked to do so.

 

[Weaselboy]

1. Turn on machine hold down the s key.
2. Once at the text boot prompt the # sign should be there type in then hit enter key, passwd YOUR_USERNAME.
3. Type in then hit enter key, reboot.

That should have reset the password to the new one you put in when asked to do so.

That won't work with Lion. You are referring to a command-s single user mode boot. You can single user mode boot in Lion, but the passwd command will not work.

It needs to be done through the recovery screen like I described.

 

[MacUser2525]

That won't work with Lion. You are referring to a command-s single user mode boot. You can single user mode boot in Lion, but the passwd command will not work.

It needs to be done through the recovery screen like I described.

Impressive.

Edit: So much so had to search to see if it was true apparently it can still be done according to this.

http://kashiv.com/2012/04/16/reset-root-password-using-single-user-boot-in-osx-lion/

 

[1969]

That won't work with Lion. You are referring to a command-s single user mode boot. You can single user mode boot in Lion, but the passwd command will not work.

It needs to be done through the recovery screen like I described.

I did what you said then selected the Utilities from the top bar menu and then selected Terminal and that brought up a pop in window with some letters in but no option to reset password

 

[simsaladimbamba]

I did what you said then selected the Utilities from the top bar menu and then selected Terminal and that brought up a pop in window with some letters in but no option to reset password

Type in

resetpassword

then pick your account and enter a new password.

 

[1969]

Type in

resetpassword

then pick your account and enter a new password.

Weasel you are an absolute GENIUS..thank you so much.

And Sim thanks for you help and input too.

I really appreciate it guys.

 

[Weaselboy]

Impressive.

Edit: So much so had to search to see if it was true apparently it can still be done according to this.

http://kashiv.com/2012/04/16/reset-root-password-using-single-user-boot-in-osx-lion/

That looks like it just resets the root account and not the user's admin account. (Unless I am misreading)

 

[MacUser2525]

That looks like it just resets the root account and not the user's admin account. (Unless I am misreading)

The passwd command takes a parameter passed to it as I show it above if you use the user name after it it resets that users password, give it a try on the command line in Terminal you will see.

 

[Weaselboy]

The passwd command takes a parameter passed to it as I show it above if you use the user name after it it resets that users password, give it a try on the command line in Terminal you will see.

Ahh... gotcha. Thanks for the tip.