HT201262: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up

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sandrafromtarpon springs
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: I can't type my password into the login screen

I can't type my password into the login screen. The mouse works, the cursor blinks in the password section, but I can't type anything into the space. If I hit the return key it shows little dots in the password field. I would appreciate any help you have to offer.

Thanks

MacBook, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Jul 16, 2016 1:27 PM

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sandrafromtarpon springs

Q: I can't type my password into the login screen

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  • Helpful answers

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jul 16, 2016 1:38 PM in response to sandrafromtarpon springs
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 16, 2016 1:38 PM in response to sandrafromtarpon springs

    If the large black dots appear as you type, that is normal. Press return to complete the login. Is this a new machine for you or is this something that has just started to happen but was working fine before now? Have you tried any troubleshooting, and if so, what have you tried? For example, have you tried: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up. You can boot into Safe Mode, then reboot normally to see if that fixes things.

  • by sandrafromtarpon springs,

    sandrafromtarpon springs sandrafromtarpon springs Jul 16, 2016 2:00 PM in response to theratter
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 16, 2016 2:00 PM in response to theratter

    Hi Ratter,

    Thanks for responding so quickly. I don't get anything in the field when I type. Small dots appear when I hit the return key. Each time I hit return another dot appears and I can delete all of the dots except one.

    This is something that just started to happen. It was working fine before. I've had it for about 9 months.

    Yes, I tried safe mode without any luck.

  • by theratter,

    theratter theratter Jul 16, 2016 2:26 PM in response to sandrafromtarpon springs
    Level 4 (3,907 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 16, 2016 2:26 PM in response to sandrafromtarpon springs

    Next is to try changing your password.

     

    Forgot Your Account Password

     

    For Lion or later

     

    1. Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password
    2. OS X Mountain Lion- Reset a login password
    3. OS X Mavericks- Solve password problems,
    4. OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.

     

    The above must be done after you start from the Recovery HD. So, while there I suggest you also repair the disk and permissions.

     

    Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions - Lion and later

     

    Boot to the Recovery HD

    Restart the computer and after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears.

     

    Repair

    When the Utility Menu appears select Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) entry from the the side list.  Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait for the process to finish, then quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.

     

    If you have no success with the above, then the next thing to try is a non-destructive  reinstall.

     

    Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive

     

           Be sure to backup before proceeding.

     

    1. Restart the computer and after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears.
    2. Choose Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.
    3. After Disk Utility loads select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) entry from the side list.  Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button.
    4. When the process finishes, quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
    5. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

    [Permission to use part or all of the above has been granted by Kappy, exclusively, to theratter.]