Prompt for administrator credentials defaults to a different user

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Prompt for administrator credentials defaults to a different user

Running Monterey 12.6. I have two administrator accounts set up on my Mac, including the one I use to log in daily. At various times, I will be prompted to authenticate in order to do things, such as installing apps, etc. This is normal and expected.

What is throwing me is that sometimes (but not always), when the popup appears asking me for the admin password, the username in the popup box is NOT the account I'm logged in with, but the name of the other administrative account. So, I have to not only enter my password, but also change the username. (Sometimes it DOES default to the current user, so all I need to do is enter the password.)

What makes it more frustrating is that I have TouchID set up, and the popup says to either enter my password or use TouchID. If I try to use TouchID, it fails, since the username in the popup isn't my account - again I have to change the username before TouchID will work, too.

This is "new" behavior. I don't recall ever having this issue with prior MacOS versions - it would always default to the current (admin) user. I can't recall if this started right with the upgrade to Monterey, or with one of the subsequent updates, though.

How can I tell the OS to always default to the currently-logged-in user when prompting for admin-level access as it used to do?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Sep 22, 2022 7:44 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 25, 2022 12:43 PM in response to Karl Ce

Hi Karl Ce,

For help with administrator privileges, check the current settings using the steps below found in the article here: Change privileges in Directory Utility on Mac - Apple Support

"Users that are members of these Active Directory group accounts can perform administrative tasks such as installing software on the Mac computer you are configuring.

In the Directory Utility app on your Mac, click Services.
Click the lock icon.
Enter an administrator’s user name and password, then click Modify Configuration (or use Touch ID).
Select Active Directory, then click the “Edit settings for the selected service” button .
If the advanced options are hidden, click the disclosure triangle next to Show Options.
Click Administrative.
Select “Allow administration by,” then change the list of Active Directory group accounts whose members you want to have administrator privileges:

To add a group, click the Add button , then enter the Active Directory domain name, a backslash, and the group account name (for example, ADS\Domain Admins, IL2\Domain Admins).
To remove a group, select it, then click the Remove button .

8.Click OK."

If the issue continues and the default isn't the account you're currently signed in with, reach out to Apple Support directly to further assist.

Contact - Official Apple Support

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Best.

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Prompt for administrator credentials defaults to a different user

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