Forgot my Mac mini password

john..... wrote:

it’s not my Apple password that i’ve lost rather it’s the password to my computer (Mac mini)

Exactly!

If you forgot your Mac's User login password, see > If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple Account password, see > If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support

Here’s how to factory reset macOS on a Mac mini: Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support

macOS itself is protected and preserved, so this reset clobbers only user data, and is a quick operation.

Apple hasn’t used or needed installer disks since Mac OS X 10.6; roughly fifteen years ago.

Follow the steps at > If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support

If that doesn't help..? Call > 1-800-MY-APPLE (800-692-7753)

use the terminal and use resetpassword If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3 chips): Press and hold the power button until you see the startup options screen. Click Options, then click Continue.

john..... wrote:

I do not have an iOS system disc but i do have a digital copy of one.

TIA

Well, having a copy of an iOS system disc doesn’t do you any good since iOS only runs on iPhones, not a Mac mini. Macs run macOS, the current version of which is 26.5

So where did you buy this “restored” Mac mini? It sounds like you didn't buy it from Apple’s refurbished store but from an individual or third party seller of used computers. Tell us where you bought it from and we’ll go from there. If this Mini is still locked to the original owner you won't be able to use it at all. Recovering the original owners password is not possible.

john..... wrote:

Need help, I forgot my Mac mini password…

am not finding answers…

It is very new, an Apple restored unit, so if i need to delete everything and restore it to factory settings nothing important will be lost…

I do not have an iOS system disc but i do have a digital copy of one.

TIA

Did you get the restored Mini from Apple? If so it should be like a new one and have the infamiou "Hello" setup screen when you turn it on.

You should not need a password unless you set it up previously with a password and have subsequently forgot it. In that case follow the directions in this Apple document; If you forgot your Mac login password.

weeklycod wrote:

use the terminal it does not need a reset

Except for Keychain contents now being inaccessible and needing a reset, and whatever else was tied into the old environment. Given the secure system volume, a factory reset is simple, fast, and gets everything back into a consistent state.

lkrupp wrote:

…So where did you buy this “restored” Mac mini? …

I expect that was a reference to an Apple refurb.

Factory reset is linked above.

use the terminal it does not need a reset

den.thed wrote:

If you forgot your Mac's User login password, see > If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Suppor