I can not log in after changing the user ID from 501 to 0

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I can not log in after changing the user ID from 501 to 0

Good day to all!

I ask for help! My problem:

Macbook Air, Catalina.

Out of stupidity, without understanding, I changed my ID from 501 to 0 (root) in System Preferences - "Accounts and Users".

As a result, when I try to log into my (the only one on my computer) account, after the standard procedure for entering the user password, I am transferred to a window where it is proposed to enter the Name and Password again.

I’ve gone through all the combinations of names and passwords that I use that have not led to anything.

if I exit this window (left arrow) - I get to the user’s window “other”.

I found a way to solve the problem by deleting the .AppleSetupDone file or by creating another user with admin rights.

But in single - user mode, despite the fact that I am designated as root user, I do not have write and execute permissions.

I tried to set root rights through the dsenableroot command, but there I need a root password that I did not set.

When trying to recover through utilities (cmd + R), nothing came of it:

reinstall the operating system - "cannot continue installing macOS";

resetpassword via terminal - lots of text and nothing.

I do not want to erase the data disc.

Please tell me if there are at least some ideas!

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Dec 7, 2019 5:54 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

HWTech

Community+ 2026

Level 9

70,412 points

Dec 8, 2019 9:36 PM in response to vyacheslav77

With Catalina you must boot into Recovery Mode (Command + R) or Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R). Then launch the Terminal app from the Utilities menu.

Run the following command to show the name of your drive's volumes. The default is "Macintosh HD".

mount  |  grep  -i  volumes

This command may show more than just your boot volume, but you should be able to identify the correct item.

Now enter this command and substitute your drive volume if it is different from the default "Macintosh HD" used in my example:

rm  -i  "/Volumes/Macintosh HD/var/db/.AppleSetupDone"

Now you can reboot and have Setup Assistant greet you.

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Answer 2

Dec 7, 2019 6:27 AM in response to vyacheslav77

Try some way you can get root level privilege access, maybe in CMD + R --> utilities --> terminal.

Then reset your original user's UID:

replace Alice to your original user name;

dscl . -read /Users/Alice UniqueID
UniqueID: 501

change UID then reboot:

dscl . -change /Users/Alice UniqueID 501 1234

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Answer 3

Dec 7, 2019 9:30 PM in response to vyacheslav77

Normally, root password may not be set initially. In the default stage we use sudo and our user's password to get root level privilege temporarily .

Therefore if you don't know root password or can't access user who have administration privilege, there is no way to login the system.

You may need to contact apple support for further assistant.

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Answer 4

vyacheslav77 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 7, 2019 9:35 AM in response to Akide_Liu

Thank you for your participation!

The whole problem is that I do not have root rights either in the terminal (cmd + R) or in single-user mode.

On my attempt to enter dscl. -read / Users / my username is UniqueID 501, in single-user mode it displays the following:

/System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServicesLocal.plist: No such file or directory

Operation failed with error: eServerError

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Answer 5

vyacheslav77 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 7, 2019 9:45 AM in response to Akide_Liu

When I enter "dsenableroot - u my username", then

I get:

*** Failed to enable root user

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Answer 6

vyacheslav77 Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 7, 2019 9:50 AM in response to Akide_Liu

It requires root password from me, but I don’t remember that I installed it, or it matches the user password. But this drive option does not work.

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I can not log in after changing the user ID from 501 to 0

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