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User profile for user: mavsanghvi
mavsanghvi Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Imac main user will not boot up

I have a 2015 iMac running Monterey 12.5. I am suddenly not able to log into my main user account (which has all my stuff!). I can log into a guest account, and I was able to create another admin account where everything seems to work fine. I have tried safe mode, tried to reset the NVRAM/PRAM, I have run the disk utility (first aid) on the startup disk in recovery mode. Unfortunately, I cannot get to the point where I can see what login items are being used for my main user account.


Any suggestions? Thanks.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Aug 12, 2022 5:02 PM

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User profile for user: brbo
brbo
User level: Level 8
35,668 points

Posted on Aug 12, 2022 5:40 PM

Hi mavsanghvi.

Welcome to the Apple Community. (We are all Apple users, like yourself.)


Re: Any suggestions?


Is it possible the main user account has somehow become a "hidden" account?

Hide a user account in macOS - Apple Support


Else:

Can you log-in to the main user account in Safe Mode ?

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support


How to use safe mode on your Mac – Apple Support

If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode,

leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally.

Then test for the issue again. The issue may have been resolved.


All the best :-)

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User profile for user: brbo
brbo
User level: Level 8
35,668 points

Aug 12, 2022 5:40 PM in response to mavsanghvi

Hi mavsanghvi.

Welcome to the Apple Community. (We are all Apple users, like yourself.)


Re: Any suggestions?


Is it possible the main user account has somehow become a "hidden" account?

Hide a user account in macOS - Apple Support


Else:

Can you log-in to the main user account in Safe Mode ?

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support


How to use safe mode on your Mac – Apple Support

If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode,

leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally.

Then test for the issue again. The issue may have been resolved.


All the best :-)

Reply
User profile for user: mavsanghvi
mavsanghvi Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Aug 12, 2022 7:30 PM in response to brbo

Thanks for the reply. It did not work in safe mode. However, after multiple attempts, the computer completed the boot up process for the user, to my relief. There was a message that an error had been detected which I reported to Apple. I was almost ready to try the solution mentioned at this website although the thought of losing the data was scary. https://christianboyce.com/fix_mac_wont_log_into_user/

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Imac main user will not boot up

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