Why doesn't my MacBook Air have an Administration account?

Computer is MacBook Air (new computer)

Sequoia 15.2


I was setting up computer for minor. I was making settings for Screen Time - Content&Privacy. At one time I was informed that it is not a good idea to set my childs accound as administrator accound (or something like that). It asked if I would like to create a new account for administration. So I did that. I thought I was creating a new account for administrative purposes only. While creating that I saw an error message which disappeared later.

Later when I wanted to change settings in Users & Groups, it asked me administrations name and password. I entered the name and password for the administration account I thought I created. But it didn't accept it. Then I tried entering the name and password of user account I first created when I started setting computer up. It was also not accepted.

So I look at the list of users in Users&Groups and see that I have 2 accounts labeled standard + 1 guest account which is off. But one should be an administrative account?

So now I cannot make any changes because it doesn't accept administration info. I can't make new account into administration account because it asks me administration name and password and doesn't accept it. Can't reset password, cause same thing as above mentioned. I can't delete new account nor I can't add user also.


Can you please help me fix this?


Can it be fixed or should I start from scratch setting up the computer? If so, how?



Aili

Posted on May 8, 2025 3:50 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 8, 2025 4:42 PM

If there is content here already, get Time Machine going, and get a backup.


If this is not already in use, reset it and start over.


Erase the Mac, and start over.


Create the first account in the new install for yourself, as an administrator.


Once the initial setup of the Mac and of your admin login is done, create a second non-admin user, and (if there is already data in the user login) use Migration Assistant to transfer the files from the Time Machine backup of the problem install into the newly-created user.








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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 8, 2025 4:42 PM in response to CrazyHappy

If there is content here already, get Time Machine going, and get a backup.


If this is not already in use, reset it and start over.


Erase the Mac, and start over.


Create the first account in the new install for yourself, as an administrator.


Once the initial setup of the Mac and of your admin login is done, create a second non-admin user, and (if there is already data in the user login) use Migration Assistant to transfer the files from the Time Machine backup of the problem install into the newly-created user.








May 9, 2025 1:58 AM in response to MrHoffman

Hi, MrHoffman,


Thanks for your advice! I tried to reinstall but while holding down Command-R, Recovery mode won't activate for some reason.


Macbook Air is with M4 chip.


I tried to do following steps but Recovery mode won't activate for some reason.


Erase and reinstall macOS on an Intel-based Mac without the Apple T2 Security Chip

You can use macOS Recovery, the built-in recovery system on your Mac, to erase and reinstall macOS.

  1. Choose Apple menu  > Restart, then immediately press and hold Command-R.
  2. In the Recovery app window, select Disk Utility, then click Continue.
  3. In Disk Utility, select the volume you want to erase in the sidebar, then click Erase in the toolbar.
  4. Type a name for the volume in the Name field, click the Format pop-up menu and choose APFS, then click Erase Volume Group.
  5. When the erase process is complete, click Done, then choose Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
  6. In the Recovery app window, click Reinstall macOS [name], then click Continue.
  7. Follow the onscreen instructions.





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Why doesn't my MacBook Air have an Administration account?

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