Unable to login using Option-Enter. Key strokes erased

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Level 1

9 points

Unable to login using Option-Enter. Key strokes erased

We are moving some of our Macs at work over to Sierra. I have run into an issue logging into those Macs, when another user is already logged in, using the Alt-Enter keys.

In the past 3 or 4 version of OS X, if a user was logged into a Mac and the screen was at their password prompt, I could key in "ALT-ENTER". It would bring up the login screen, I would enter the administrator credentials and then I would be able to access that user's current session on the Mac. We use this a lot when the user opens a support ticket but cannot wait at their desk for our assistance. I am NOT logging in under my own session but accessing the current user's session.

In Sierra, on the Mac Minis I have upgraded so far, when I press ALT-ENTER I get the login screen, as normal. However, when I start to type in the user name, it erases each key stroke I make. It is as if you entered a letter and then entered Backspace. I have this issue when I am physically at the machine and when I am use Apple Remote Desktop to administer the Mac Mini remotely from my Mac Book Pro. My other tech also has this issue. So it seems to be an issue on the Mini.

Anyone else experienced this? Thoughts?

John F

Colorado

Posted on Jan 31, 2017 1:52 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 1, 2017 6:29 AM in response to johnnyf_live

Yes we have experienced this as well. The method for enabling unlock of someone else's screensaver lock screen is changed with Sierra however the new method is backwards compatible with earlier versions of OS X.

Try the following -

/usr/bin/security authorizationdb write system.login.screensaver "authenticate-session-owner-or-admin"

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Answer 2

johnnyf_live Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 1, 2017 1:09 PM in response to John Lockwood

Hi John. Thanks for responding.

When I enter the command you recommended, it just responds on the next line with: yes (0)

Does not seem to have changed anything. I wasn't sure if the "authenticate-session-owner-or-admin" was supposed to be a user name so I also tried changing that part to be the user name in and it replied: no

Any thoughts?

Thank you,

John

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Answer 3

Feb 2, 2017 1:45 AM in response to johnnyf_live

That string is the correct one, you do not put any other name in it. You will have to reboot for it to take effect, there is also a possibility you might have to do it using sudo privileges. (I do it during the process of imaging a new computer so it is inherently running as root/sudo.)

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