Troy Elliot Tyson

Q: How do I remove password protection on Yosemite 10.10.2?

How do I remove password protection on Yosemite 10.10.2?  I want it so that when I turn my computer on I am automatically logged in and do not need to enter a password.  I am the only user.  I read how to do "automatic login" under System Preferences/Users & Groups, but the "automatic login" option is set to "off" and is greyed out so that I can't change it.  Apple.com says I need to turn off FileVault in order to allow automatic login.  However, I went to System Preferences/Security & Privacy/FileVault, and it says that it's already off.  Is there any other reason why "automatic login" would be greyed out?

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013), OS X Yosemite (10.10.2)

Posted on Apr 11, 2015 7:15 PM

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Q: How do I remove password protection on Yosemite 10.10.2?

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Apr 11, 2015 7:28 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 8 (49,522 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 11, 2015 7:28 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    Sorry to ask the obvious question, but did you click the icon adjacent to the text "Click the lock to make changes"?

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 11, 2015 8:14 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 8:14 PM in response to John Galt

    Yes, I "unlocked" the lock on both the Users & Groups and Security & Privacy screens.  I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but if I close out of that screen (either of them), and then re-open it, the lock is locked again.  However, the "automatic login" selection is greyed out whether the lock is locked or unlocked.

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Apr 11, 2015 8:28 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 8:28 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    Troy Elliot Tyson wrote:

     

    I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but if I close out of that screen (either of them), and then re-open it, the lock is locked again.

    It's normal under Yosemite.

     

    However, the "automatic login" selection is greyed out whether the lock is locked or unlocked.

    Since you are the only user, make sure you as the admin is highlighted.  Better yet, please post a screen shot of the Login Options window.  Please DO NOT show/post any personal info.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Wave Siggy.gif

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 11, 2015 8:47 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 8:47 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Users Groups Screen.jpg

    This is the Users & Groups screen.  Before unlocking the lock at the bottom, none of the options are changeable.  After unlocking it, I can change all of them except the Automatic Login.

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 11, 2015 8:53 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 8:53 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Admin.jpg

    And this is the screen if I select myself as the admin, as you suggest, although there is no option for automatic login on this screen.  (My e-mail was blacked out... otherwise, this screen capture is as-is).

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Apr 11, 2015 8:59 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 8:59 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    With Yosemite, you need to reset your password in order to use auto login.  Do the following:


    Resetting Password

    1. Shut down comp & wait a few minutes.

    2. Turn on & at the same time hold down the “command” & “R” keys.

    3.  Next screen….. In the menu bar click on Utilities (NOT OS X UTILITIES)

    4.  In the drop down menu, click on Terminal.

    5.  In the terminal pop up small window:  Type exactly—> resetpassword  Hit return key.

    6.  Reset password window will pop up.  Follow the onscreen instructions to reset password.  Make sure you select the admin account to reset the password.

    7.  You can ignore the “keychain” pop up windows, which is what I did.  Does not affect anything.

    You can do the keychain stuff at your leisure.

    8.  Quit out of everything & restart your computer.

    9.  Enter your new reset password.

     

    Once you are back on the desktop, you can go into System Preferences>Users & Groups to set up auto login.

     

     

     

    Also, check out the following User Tip:  Reset the user password in OS X Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • by Latranner,

    Latranner Latranner Apr 11, 2015 9:04 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 1 (60 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 9:04 PM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    Do you have this setting enabled?

     

    Screen Shot 2015-04-11 at 22.02.50.png

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 11, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 9:09 PM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Thank you for the information.  I will try that tomorrow, and will let you know if it works.  Thanks again!

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 11, 2015 9:10 PM in response to Latranner
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2015 9:10 PM in response to Latranner

    No, that box is not checked.

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 12, 2015 8:42 AM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 8:42 AM in response to Baby Boomer (USofA)

    Thank you again for this information, but I'm having trouble with it.

     

    On step 3, there is nothing that says "Utilities."  It does say "Disk Utility," so I clicked that.  Once I get there, there is no "Terminal" link (no dropdown menu at all).  It shows my "Macintosh HD" drive, as well as my 2 external hard drives.  Below that, it says "disk1" and "OS X Base System," but whatever I select, there is still no "Terminal" link.

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 12, 2015 9:14 AM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 9:14 AM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I just noticed that in the Users & Groups screen, if I put my mouse over the automatic login drop-down menu (which I can't click on), I get a note that says "A user with an encrypted home folder can't log in automatically."  I went to my home folder, and I can't figure out how to remove encryption.  Could this be the issue?  And if so, how do I remove encryption?

  • by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 12, 2015 9:37 AM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 9 (50,339 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2015 9:37 AM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    And if so, how do I remove encryption?

    Security & Privacy--turn off FileVault.

     

    It also won't work with iCloud password. See here: Automatic login isn't available with FileVault or iCloud account passwords - Apple Support

  • by Troy Elliot Tyson,

    Troy Elliot Tyson Troy Elliot Tyson Apr 12, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thank you Barney!  I was using my iCloud password, and I never imagined that that might be the issue.  I am able to log in automatically now.  Thank you also to everyone who responded for taking the time/effort to help.

  • by Baby Boomer (USofA),

    Baby Boomer (USofA) Baby Boomer (USofA) Apr 12, 2015 11:10 AM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson
    Level 9 (57,623 points)
    Apr 12, 2015 11:10 AM in response to Troy Elliot Tyson

    Troy Elliot Tyson wrote:

     

    Thank you again for this information, but I'm having trouble with it.

     

    On step 3, there is nothing that says "Utilities."  It does say "Disk Utility," so I clicked that.  Once I get there, there is no "Terminal" link (no dropdown menu at all).  It shows my "Macintosh HD" drive, as well as my 2 external hard drives.  Below that, it says "disk1" and "OS X Base System," but whatever I select, there is still no "Terminal" link.

    3.  Next screen….. In the menu bar click on Utilities (NOT OS X UTILITIES)

    osx-recovery.jpg


    =============


    Glad your problem has now been resolved.  Thanks for posting back what caused it in the first place.  Will help other users having the same problem.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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