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HELP, locked out of iMac

I locked so friend wouldnt mess around on it, eneterd a 4 digit pin, and it wants a 6 digit pin, any ideas????


going to apple store is not an option, my neares apple store is 1000 miles away

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), null

Posted on Feb 13, 2015 11:50 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Feb 15, 2015 9:19 AM

Hi willwills90,

It sounds like you are locked out of the administrative user account on your iMac, is that correct? A four digit passcode is usually for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. A user account password on the computer is usually 6 - 8 characters. You should be able to click on the question mark to see a hint of what the password is. If not, you can reset using your Apple ID if you have Yosemite installed.

Here is some detailed information:

OS X: Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-is/HT202274

OS X: Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password

Learn how Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.


Use your Apple ID to shop the iTunes Store, log in to iChat or iCloud, make a reservation with a Genius, and access Apple.com support and more. In OS X Lion or later you can even use your Apple ID to reset your user account password, in case you cannot recall what your OS X account password is.

What's an Apple ID?

An Apple ID lets you personalize your Apple experience. You use your Apple ID to access Apple resources that require you to identify yourself. Learn more about your Apple ID.

How to allow your Apple ID to reset your OS X user password

When you start OS X or a new Mac with OS X Lion or later for the first time, you enter the OS X Setup Assistant where you will be asked to enter your Apple ID. After entering your Apple ID, select the "Allow my Apple ID to reset this user's password" option during the "Create your Computer Account" stage.

If you didn't enter your Apple ID during the OS X Setup Assistant or your Mac already has its user accounts, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
  2. To bind an Apple ID to your OS X user account, click the Apple ID: "Set…" button and enter a Apple ID name and password, or click the "Create Apple ID…" to create a new Apple ID using Safari.
  3. Select the "Allow user to reset password using Apple ID" check box.

Note: FileVault 2-enabled Macs will not show a "Allow user to reset password using Apple ID". Learn more about FileVault 2, including how to reset its password.

To reset your OS X user password with your Apple ID

If you incorrectly enter your account password at the login window three times, a message appears stating "If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID". Click the arrow-in-a-circle icon to bring up the "Reset Password" dialog. Enter your Apple ID and password, then click "Reset Password" to proceed.

Note: In some cases, you may not be presented with the opportunity to reset the password after three incorrect attempts. If this happens, open Users & Groups preferences, remove the affected Apple ID, and then add the same Apple ID back. This issue could occur after upgrading from Mac OS X v10.6 to OS X Lion.

Note: Changing the user account password will create a new keychain. The previous keychain still exists and can be accessed if you later remember the previous password.

Click "OK" in the dialog that appears to inform you about the new keychain.

Enter a New password, Verify password and Password hint fields, then click "Reset Password" to proceed.

Click "Continue Log In" to finish logging in using the new password you just created.


Last Modified:



OS X: Changing or resetting an account password - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-is/HT202860


Regards,

- Judy

2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Feb 15, 2015 9:19 AM in response to willwills90

Hi willwills90,

It sounds like you are locked out of the administrative user account on your iMac, is that correct? A four digit passcode is usually for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. A user account password on the computer is usually 6 - 8 characters. You should be able to click on the question mark to see a hint of what the password is. If not, you can reset using your Apple ID if you have Yosemite installed.

Here is some detailed information:

OS X: Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-is/HT202274

OS X: Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password

Learn how Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.


Use your Apple ID to shop the iTunes Store, log in to iChat or iCloud, make a reservation with a Genius, and access Apple.com support and more. In OS X Lion or later you can even use your Apple ID to reset your user account password, in case you cannot recall what your OS X account password is.

What's an Apple ID?

An Apple ID lets you personalize your Apple experience. You use your Apple ID to access Apple resources that require you to identify yourself. Learn more about your Apple ID.

How to allow your Apple ID to reset your OS X user password

When you start OS X or a new Mac with OS X Lion or later for the first time, you enter the OS X Setup Assistant where you will be asked to enter your Apple ID. After entering your Apple ID, select the "Allow my Apple ID to reset this user's password" option during the "Create your Computer Account" stage.

If you didn't enter your Apple ID during the OS X Setup Assistant or your Mac already has its user accounts, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
  2. To bind an Apple ID to your OS X user account, click the Apple ID: "Set…" button and enter a Apple ID name and password, or click the "Create Apple ID…" to create a new Apple ID using Safari.
  3. Select the "Allow user to reset password using Apple ID" check box.

Note: FileVault 2-enabled Macs will not show a "Allow user to reset password using Apple ID". Learn more about FileVault 2, including how to reset its password.

To reset your OS X user password with your Apple ID

If you incorrectly enter your account password at the login window three times, a message appears stating "If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID". Click the arrow-in-a-circle icon to bring up the "Reset Password" dialog. Enter your Apple ID and password, then click "Reset Password" to proceed.

Note: In some cases, you may not be presented with the opportunity to reset the password after three incorrect attempts. If this happens, open Users & Groups preferences, remove the affected Apple ID, and then add the same Apple ID back. This issue could occur after upgrading from Mac OS X v10.6 to OS X Lion.

Note: Changing the user account password will create a new keychain. The previous keychain still exists and can be accessed if you later remember the previous password.

Click "OK" in the dialog that appears to inform you about the new keychain.

Enter a New password, Verify password and Password hint fields, then click "Reset Password" to proceed.

Click "Continue Log In" to finish logging in using the new password you just created.


Last Modified:



OS X: Changing or resetting an account password - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-is/HT202860


Regards,

- Judy

HELP, locked out of iMac

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