Security Startup Utility Password Not Accepted

[jjs357]

I was trying to get into the Startup Security Utility from recovery mode.

This is for a new MacBook Pro 2018 running the latest version of High Sierra.

I am told I need to supply an administrator password. I do enter the correct password but the password is rejected.

I do have a fairly short password and perhaps there is some unknown (to me at least) password complexity checking going on that fails. I am sure I am entering the right password. This password works for me for ordinary login but not for the Security Startup app available from recovery mode.

There is only one administrator user set up.

Filevault is not enabled for my disk.

Any ideas?

 

[DeanL]

It's the same password as your macOS admin password.
If it doesn't work, did you erase the hard drive? Doing so without disabling the Security Utility before will brick your computer.

 

[jjs357]

It's the same password as your macOS admin password.
If it doesn't work, did you erase the hard drive? Doing so without disabling the Security Utility before will brick your computer.

I did not erase the hard drive prior to trying to access the security settings? Is that a requirement?

I did wipe the drive and reinstall the OS prior to this attempt and did not pay attention to the security settings then. Now I just want to see what my current security settings are. I boot into recovery mode and then attempt to inspect the settings. I can't get past the password challenge. I know for sure I am using the right password.

 

[haralds]

I did not erase the hard drive prior to trying to access the security settings? Is that a requirement?

I did wipe the drive and reinstall the OS prior to this attempt and did not pay attention to the security settings then. Now I just want to see what my current security settings are. I boot into recovery mode and then attempt to inspect the settings. I can't get past the password challenge. I know for sure I am using the right password.

Do you remember the password you set the first time before you're wiped. That might be the one stored for T2.

 

[jjs357]

I used the same administrator password before and after I erased the disk and reinstalled High Sierra.

 

[DeanL]

I did not erase the hard drive prior to trying to access the security settings? Is that a requirement?

I did wipe the drive and reinstall the OS prior to this attempt and did not pay attention to the security settings then. Now I just want to see what my current security settings are. I boot into recovery mode and then attempt to inspect the settings. I can't get past the password challenge. I know for sure I am using the right password.

This is what I meant: if you wipe the hard drive without disabling Startup Utility BEFORE, it currently bricks it.

See this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/things-that-may-brick-your-2018-macbook-pro.2128945/

 

[Kazi Dip]

did you solve it?

 

[hodgicus]

I was trying to get into the Startup Security Utility from recovery mode.

This is for a new MacBook Pro 2018 running the latest version of High Sierra.

I am told I need to supply an administrator password. I do enter the correct password but the password is rejected.

I do have a fairly short password and perhaps there is some unknown (to me at least) password complexity checking going on that fails. I am sure I am entering the right password. This password works for me for ordinary login but not for the Security Startup app available from recovery mode.

There is only one administrator user set up.

Filevault is not enabled for my disk.

Any ideas?

Similar experience and how I moved past it.
After installing MAC OS Catalina on an external SSD, I decided to install Win10do on a second external SSD. Followed several video and tutorial page instructions to create a bootable installer, but nothing would boot. After a ridiculous amount of searching around for the problem, I discovered the existence of !surprise! Startup Security Utility (Got a Mac for my birthday, just learning my way around, okay? The so-called Help pulls -.9 bar, easy.)
At the recovery prompt, my GUI username "Joe Schmuck" appears, and I am asked for my admin credentials. Typed and accepted, no problem. But upon electing to change startup security, the utility presents another username never seen before: "joeschmuck" all lower case, run together, and no password I've ever used on the machine works. No way around, no terminal access that I can find, no cracks on the dark web, and of course absurdly useless horse feces in the online "support." On a hunch, based on an indirect mention in a reply to a question on a forum far far way, I changed the startup disk back to the original Mac HD, logged in, restarted, and Startup Security gave me change access without a challenge. And my installer stick cranked right up on the restart.
Here's hoping this helps someone, Mother Net knows I struggled hard to stumble through it.
hodgicus

 

[oldescratch]

Pretty old reply now but incase it helps.... I had the same problem so I just created a new admin account and used the user name and password for that one and it worked.