Trying to disable auto boot on MacBook Pro. Terminal is requiring admin password but I can't find it in the keychain.

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MTJT1962 Author

Level 1

4 points

Trying to disable auto boot on MacBook Pro. Terminal is requiring admin password but I can't find it in the keychain.

How do I locate my administrative password in Keychain?

Posted on Sep 4, 2023 1:12 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

144,975 points

Sep 4, 2023 1:34 PM in response to MTJT1962

The first or only user you create on a new Mac is created with Admin privileges.

...So on a typical single-user Mac, that YOUR login password.

Admin account passwords are not stored in the keychain. An admin account password is required to get into keychain.

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Answer 2

Sep 4, 2023 1:41 PM in response to MTJT1962

<<. I am unable to input anything. >>

Terminal NEVER echoes your password. You have to type it 'blind'. That's just how Terminal works.

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Answer 3

Sep 4, 2023 5:34 PM in response to MTJT1962

just to be clear, this is the password you would normally enter to log in when you power up your computer, not your Apple-ID password.

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Answer 4

MTJT1962 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2023 1:38 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks, that is how I understood it to be as well. However, when I launch Terminal and put the command "sudo nvram AutoBoot=%00" to disable the auto boot I keep getting a message to enter my admin password with a key symbol. I am unable to input anything. I need to replace the battery in my MacBook Pro and need to complete this step prior to moving forward.

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Answer 5

MTJT1962 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 4, 2023 1:47 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I apologize but I don't understand what you mean by this. The window clearly states Password: with a key symbol.

I have typed my password and hit the return key and I get the message Sorry, try again.

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Answer 6

Sep 5, 2023 7:04 PM in response to MTJT1962

If this is for an Apple Silicon Mac, then this setting will not work. It is only a setting for an Intel Mac. Plus even on an Intel Mac, this will only prevent the laptop from power on automatically by opening the Display (aka "lid")...it won't affect power on when pressing any key or Trackpad, or connecting a charger. In fact, I would not blindly enter any "nvram" commands on an Apple Silicon Mac since I've seen reports on these forums that some "nvram" options have "broken" the Apple Silicon Mac which required the user to perform a firmware "Restore" which destroys all data on the internal SSD.

As for the incorrect password....make sure you did not accidentally press the Caps Lock key, and you correctly typed the password since there is no feedback to tell if the key press registered or if the key press caused to characters to be entered.

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