Hello, I am having trouble with unlocking my system preferences for the administrator. It is not taking my current password that I use to sign into my Macbook Air. I tried going through recovery mode and resetting the password there but no luck still. Anyone have any suggestions?
How to Create a New Admin User Account, if You Have None
Reboot the computer. At or before the chime, press and hold down the COMMAND-S keys to start into Single-user Mode. You will boot to a black screen with scrolling white text, release the keys and wait until it finishes. Enter the following lines at the command prompt pressing RETURN after each:
mount -uw /
^ ^ Note spaces
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
^ Note space
reboot
After you reboot the computer you will be taken to the Setup Assistant. When you get to the point where you are asked to set up your new user account, create a new admin account. Be sure to name this user account something different than any other account that already exists on the system. When you finish the Setup Assistant, it will automatically log you into the new account.
You need do nothing more. Log into the Admin account only when you need to, such as installing or upgrading software. Log into the Standard account for your normal computer uses. If you prefer using just one account, the admin account, then you will need to make some changes as discussed below.
You can transfer your files from the old account to the new one. See Transferring files from one User Account to another. Once you have moved all your files into your new account, you can delete the old account using Accounts or Users & Groups preferences.
How to Create a New Admin User Account, if You Have None
Reboot the computer. At or before the chime, press and hold down the COMMAND-S keys to start into Single-user Mode. You will boot to a black screen with scrolling white text, release the keys and wait until it finishes. Enter the following lines at the command prompt pressing RETURN after each:
mount -uw /
^ ^ Note spaces
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone
^ Note space
reboot
After you reboot the computer you will be taken to the Setup Assistant. When you get to the point where you are asked to set up your new user account, create a new admin account. Be sure to name this user account something different than any other account that already exists on the system. When you finish the Setup Assistant, it will automatically log you into the new account.
You need do nothing more. Log into the Admin account only when you need to, such as installing or upgrading software. Log into the Standard account for your normal computer uses. If you prefer using just one account, the admin account, then you will need to make some changes as discussed below.
You can transfer your files from the old account to the new one. See Transferring files from one User Account to another. Once you have moved all your files into your new account, you can delete the old account using Accounts or Users & Groups preferences.
Is your account an Administrator account?
If you are prompted to enter an admin password while using System Preferences, then you are being asked to enter the same password you use when logging onto your computer. The dialog looks somewhat like this:
Your User Name should already appear in the above field. You enter the password in the Password; field.
I believe I am, I am the only user on here. When I go to system preferences under my user name it says standard. Should that be something else for admin?
Thank you for the suggestion. I am good to go now.
Password for system preferences on Macbook Air
