Accidentally activated firmware lockscreen, how do I go back?

ldmat wrote:

I logged out of my Macbook (pro 2019, Catalina) then after mistyping my password, accidentally hit the “recover password” button (or something along those lines, can’t remember). I do remember my password, so that’s not the issue.

My Macbook then rebooted and took me to a black screen with a grey lock and a password prompt (which I learned was the firmware password page). I don’t remember ever setting a firmware password.

I tried my regular login password, which didn’t work. I also tried any other password I could think of. None worked. I tried booting into recovery mode with command+r, but I still get the same screen.

I think the issue could be that my Macbook is trying to boot into recovery mode (because I accidentally clicked to recover my password), but recovery mode requires the firmware password. And now I can’t get it to boot normally, without recovery mode. I tried following these steps: https://windowsreport.com/mac/macbook-stuck-recovery-mode/, but I always get the lockscreen.

Is there a way to go back to how it was before, with the normal login screen (with my known password)?

I’m not trying to do anything that requires firmware password (like recovery), I’m just trying to login like I always used to.

Thanks

If you forgot your firmware password

Set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support

No, there is no simple way to undo this. Your IT department set the firmware password and only they can undo it once it activates.