OSX Yosemite won't accept login credentials

[Applefanboy8153]

My OS X Yosemite is not accepting my password for logging in to my admin account, please help me reset the password.

 

[fierp]

I had what sounds like a similar problem back with the first DP. The prompt for the admin password would not have my username entered and would not accept it when I entered my username or full name with the correct password.

What I ended up doing was rebooting and holding down Command + S to boot into single-user mode. Then entering the following commands:

mount -uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
shutdown -h now

This will mount your HD, then remove the flag that the first run setup assistant wizard has been completed, and shutdown. I used this to create a new admin account (I named it My Hero). After logging into the new account I changed the password for my old account in System Preferences Users & Groups, then it worked from then on. I kept My Hero around just because. Hopefully it will be helpful to you.

 

[Ahead33159]

I had what sounds like a similar problem back with the first DP. The prompt for the admin password would not have my username entered and would not accept it when I entered my username or full name with the correct password.

What I ended up doing was rebooting and holding down Command + S to boot into single-user mode. Then entering the following commands:

mount -uw /
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
shutdown -h now

This will mount your HD, then remove the flag that the first run setup assistant wizard has been completed, and shutdown. I used this to create a new admin account (I named it My Hero). After logging into the new account I changed the password for my old account in System Preferences Users & Groups, then it worked from then on. I kept My Hero around just because. Hopefully it will be helpful to you.

That method only works in OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

This is another method that works in most versions.

Restart the Mac, or if already turned off, when you turn it on, hold down Command+R.

A screen will appear asking you for options. Click on Utilities, then click Terminal.

Enter just one command: resetpassword

A GUI will pop up. Click on the volume you want to change the admin password of. Click on the multi-choice button that asks for a user. Pick the admin.

Now, you don't really have to worry because it will not ask you for your password(Apple really needs to step up on their security there). Enter a new password, then reenter it.

Click Save. It will ask you for a confirmation about the keychain.

Then click on the Apple menu and click restart.

The new password will take place.

Just click on the admin account, enter the new password, and you're in.

 

[joydot]

That method only works in OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

This is another method that works in most versions.

Restart the Mac, or if already turned off, when you turn it on, hold down Command+R.

A screen will appear asking you for options. Click on Utilities, then click Terminal.

Enter just one command: resetpassword

A GUI will pop up. Click on the volume you want to change the admin password of. Click on the multi-choice button that asks for a user. Pick the admin.

Now, you don't really have to worry because it will not ask you for your password(Apple really needs to step up on their security there). Enter a new password, then reenter it.

Click Save. It will ask you for a confirmation about the keychain.

Then click on the Apple menu and click restart.

The new password will take place.

Just click on the admin account, enter the new password, and you're in.

i have tried this 10+ times and dont even get options. techie daughter set up new farking ret screen (apple - its masochism) giving it ambig password. i changed it to my normal one and now it wont log in AT ALL. wierd thing is it seems to open safari???

 

[grahamperrin]

… seems to open safari …

If that's Safari only, with no other app available, then that's guest access without unlocking the OS X startup volume.

 

[iubhounds]

I had a similar problem the other day. After asking the forum and getting a lot of views over two weeks but no answers, I called Apple Care. She had me change from my track pad on my iMac to my wireless mouse. Unbelievable but the mouse worked!!

I then went into preferences and changed my iMac back to automatic log in like I've had for almost 5 years. Rebooted and the trackpad worked again.

As a reference, I've been using the Yosemite Public Beta version.

 

[ssmed]

I have seen this with a MBP 15 when the wrong power pack is connected (i.e. that for the MBA). Very frustrating.