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User profile for user: Joshua Lee
Joshua Lee Author
User level: Level 1
95 points

Acceptable Password Characters

Is it possible to use spaces and/or characters like π that have to be generated by alt + combinations in administrator passwords on the mac? I'd hate to try this only to be locked out forever.

1.5 GHz PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Jan 17, 2006 2:35 PM

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User profile for user: Dr. Smoke
Dr. Smoke
User level: Level 9
56,586 points

Posted on Jan 17, 2006 3:01 PM

Hi, J.L.

You can use what are known as High ASCII characters (Option - character combinations: in the Mac universe the alt key is known as the Option or Opt key) in passwords, but there has been at least one case where this has been problematic after a Mac OS X update, specifically if one used such characters in their password under Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier and then upgraded to Tiger.

I'd recommend you use the Password Assistant, which appears as a button bearing the image of a key next to password fields, such as in your Account preferences. This can help you pick good passwords without needing to resort to adding High ASCII characters.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
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User profile for user: Dr. Smoke
Dr. Smoke
User level: Level 9
56,586 points

Jan 17, 2006 3:01 PM in response to Joshua Lee

Hi, J.L.

You can use what are known as High ASCII characters (Option - character combinations: in the Mac universe the alt key is known as the Option or Opt key) in passwords, but there has been at least one case where this has been problematic after a Mac OS X update, specifically if one used such characters in their password under Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier and then upgraded to Tiger.

I'd recommend you use the Password Assistant, which appears as a button bearing the image of a key next to password fields, such as in your Account preferences. This can help you pick good passwords without needing to resort to adding High ASCII characters.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
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Acceptable Password Characters

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