Shared my macbook with someone. Now my account doesn't work.

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Level 1

5 points

Shared my macbook with someone. Now my account doesn't work.

Some time ago my wife started using my macbook. She says that she started using my account, but somehow it became locked and we created her own.

I didn't remove my account -- both accounts appear when booting up. Mine is still locked. It doesn't recognize any of the 6 passwords that I have in my records, including the one that I used to log in here. My records show that I changed my account email just this last August 2024 when I was normalizing my use of aliases for a number of vendors.

Her account on the machine still works.

I started the recovery process on the macbook, but I don't have a record of a recovery key, and I don't remember creating one.

My apple ID on my phone shows the latest email that I created in August. I see the place to change password, but I'll need the current one to start that.

What can I do?

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Nov 19, 2024 9:05 AM

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Answer 1

lew16 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 19, 2024 11:27 AM in response to varjak paw

Thank you.

After numerous false starts, we are now waiting for Apple to verify identity. I'm glad that the process is so involved, but several parts were unclear and required backing up and starting again. Finally I think we got it right from the instructions on this page.

However, it's not clear whether all this will reset the password for my Apple ID account or for the MacBook. The one for the MacBook is the one I needed. I wasn't aware of the difference until now -- unless they're the same? I don't log in to my Apple ID account often at all -- on my phone I'm always logged in. Please confirm that this will enable my account on the MacBook.

One of the prompts says that "This Mac is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password...." On one of our tries we entered my wife's information and it didn't cause an error. Is it only linked to one Apple ID or can it be linked to two IDs?

The final splash screen says, "If you are signed in to iCloud on another iPhone...or Mac with a device passcode enabled, you can use it to sign in or update your phone number immediately." Is a "passcode" a password? For my Apple ID account or for the device (like the password for my computer)?

I'll appreciate clarification.

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

177,778 points

Nov 19, 2024 1:52 PM in response to lew16

The Reset Password Assistant resets the password to your user account on your Mac, not for your Apple Account. However, it may require confirmation with the login and password to your Apple Account. This is a security precaution that ensures that a thief can't steal your Mac and then just change the password to get into it and access your data.

I'm not at all clear on the splash screen that mentions changing the phone number connected with your Apple Account since that's not what you're trying to accomplish. But without being able to see the process you've been following to know exactly where things stand, I can't offer advice. Perhaps someone else here has gone through the reset process and knows what the screen is asking and can advise further. Otherwise, you may wish to contact Apple Support.

Regards.

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Answer 3

lew16 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 19, 2024 4:08 PM in response to varjak paw

Your first paragraph answers my main question for now -- I'll be resetting the macbook password so I can access what I left behind in my account on the macbook. I think the system said that I'll hear tomorrow when I might be able to try again, and then in a couple/few days I would get an email telling me to retry.

Since it will be a few days, my wife will use it under her account on the computer. When I hear that it's ok to retry, I'll do so.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 4

BaliMac

Level 1

27 points

Nov 19, 2024 10:31 PM in response to lew16

lew16, it's perfectly normal to share a computer and Apple Makes it pretty easy to do this. Just go to Users & Groups in Settings and create a new Standard User. You can then use Fast User Switching to swap back and forward between users and nothing done in one can effect the other with the exception of System changes like macOS upgrades that can only be made by the Admin User (You).

There is no need for a second user to be an Admin.

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Answer 5

HWTech

Level 9

60,494 points

Nov 20, 2024 12:08 PM in response to lew16

Is your wife's macOS user account an Admin account or just a Standard account? If it is an Admin user account, then just go to the Users & Groups System Settings/Preferences, select your macOS user account and change the password. Very simple.

If you are talking about an issue with your AppleID, then that is something completely different.

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Answer 6

lew16 Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 20, 2024 1:08 PM in response to HWTech

Wasn't familiar with that. Not resetting apple id.

Logging onto her account, both are listed as admin. Mine is set to allow password set both ways (with apple id and the other). My account was "locked", and I went through the process in my link above (11/19 11:27 am). I wouldn't have needed to know the previous password?

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