Restore administrator privileges to user

Question

Restore administrator privileges to user

Hi guys,

A friend gifted me their old MacBook Air. I attempted to change the user name but only succeeded in changing the account from an administrator account to a standard account. It is the only user so now the computer has no administrator, just one standard user.

I did try implementing the solution posted in the following thread to no avail:

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/328192/lost-access-to-admin-user-account-in-my-mac-book-pro

I received the response

rm: .AppleSetupDone: No such file or directory

plus a few other lines of text.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them :)

MacBook Air

Posted on Aug 23, 2021 10:36 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Aug 24, 2021 5:46 AM in response to BuffyTheCandySlayer

You're showing an unneeded space after db/ & before .AppleSetupDone...

Should be rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,277 points

Aug 24, 2021 2:24 AM in response to BuffyTheCandySlayer

Follow instruction from another ASC Forum and specifically person @BDAqua for detailed instruction to create a New Admin. Account >>>> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253061386 <<<<

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

102,277 points

Aug 24, 2021 4:21 AM in response to BuffyTheCandySlayer

User wrote " A friend gifted me their old MacBook Air. " since the above has not worked two option IMHO. 1 - is speak to the giver of the machine and ask for credentials for the existing Admin Account or 2 - What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac which is what should have been done before it was gifted.

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