Lost login credentials for iMac

This is a surprise to me. But this computer is 8 to 10 years old and for the first time it is asking for my login name and password. The password I have, it is the login name that I remember that isn't working. I can see the name from my network settings with my laptop. I can also see it on Find My and play a sound with screen notification that won't go away with the enter key on the iMac.


The desktop screen does not look like anything I have seen before. I don't understand why it isn't showing the same screen as previously.


At any rate my question is there anything I can do to retrieve the credentials that the computer needs from me, that for some reason I can't provide?


I could try a restore from Time Machine, but that would be the last resort because it would be a full restore the way it works.


BTW I have restarted with the same results.

iMac 27″

Posted on Jul 6, 2023 10:20 PM

Reply
4 replies

Jul 7, 2023 6:38 AM in response to dnorth12

What year is your Mac? Different year Macs have different features and capabilities, and saying it's somewhere around X years old will not narrow it down enough. https://www.idownloadblog.com/2020/11/12/find-age-of-mac/


Forgotten passwords: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860. This may not be relevant at this point.


Here are two discussions of your problem that may be of help:

macbook pro asking for name and password … - Apple Community

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/354946/mac-asking-for-username-and-password-on-starting-up



Lost login credentials for iMac

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.