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forgotten guest user password

Someone used my MacBook as a guest user and now can't remember the password. How can I get in?

iMac, safari

Posted on Apr 11, 2018 9:06 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 11, 2018 9:40 AM

Hello,


If I understand your question correctly, you permitted someone to temporarily use your account and now you are unable to remember your password. Thankfully, there's multiple ways to reset a forgotten password, provided that the following apply:


  • FileVault is off, or it is enabled AND one of the following apply:
    • You authorized your Apple ID (iCloud account) to unlock your startup disk.
    • If you didn't authorize your Apple ID to unlock your startup disk, you have the recovery key.
    • You know the password to another user that is authorized to unlock FileVault.
  • A firmware password isn't set on your Mac, or you set one AND you know the password. Note that this is different from your login password. More details here: How to set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support


Methods for resetting your password can be found in this article (as tygb suggested): Change or reset the password of a macOS user account - Apple Support.


The fastest (and usually the easiest) method for resetting your password is outlined below. Note that if FileVault is on, this method will fail if you didn't authorize your Apple ID to unlock your startup disk. Follow these steps to reset your password:


1. Boot Recovery Mode on your Mac by holding down Command-R while you turn on or restart your Mac. Release the keys when the Apple logo and a progress bar appears. If you set a firmware password on your Mac, enter it to continue.

2. When the Utilities menu appears, click on the Utilities tab in the top menu bar, then click on Terminal.

3. Execute this command: resetpassword

4. The Password Reset Assistant should appear. You will be guided through the process of resetting your user account password.


As a sidenote, if you want to let guests use your Mac, you should enable the guest account. It will give them their own user environment (which will get reset upon logout), and will keep your own account and files relatively safe. If FileVault is on, the guest user gets even better in terms of security as it boots to a Safari-only environment, and your entire startup disk is locked and protected.


Hope this helps!

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 11, 2018 9:40 AM in response to grannyr

Hello,


If I understand your question correctly, you permitted someone to temporarily use your account and now you are unable to remember your password. Thankfully, there's multiple ways to reset a forgotten password, provided that the following apply:


  • FileVault is off, or it is enabled AND one of the following apply:
    • You authorized your Apple ID (iCloud account) to unlock your startup disk.
    • If you didn't authorize your Apple ID to unlock your startup disk, you have the recovery key.
    • You know the password to another user that is authorized to unlock FileVault.
  • A firmware password isn't set on your Mac, or you set one AND you know the password. Note that this is different from your login password. More details here: How to set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support


Methods for resetting your password can be found in this article (as tygb suggested): Change or reset the password of a macOS user account - Apple Support.


The fastest (and usually the easiest) method for resetting your password is outlined below. Note that if FileVault is on, this method will fail if you didn't authorize your Apple ID to unlock your startup disk. Follow these steps to reset your password:


1. Boot Recovery Mode on your Mac by holding down Command-R while you turn on or restart your Mac. Release the keys when the Apple logo and a progress bar appears. If you set a firmware password on your Mac, enter it to continue.

2. When the Utilities menu appears, click on the Utilities tab in the top menu bar, then click on Terminal.

3. Execute this command: resetpassword

4. The Password Reset Assistant should appear. You will be guided through the process of resetting your user account password.


As a sidenote, if you want to let guests use your Mac, you should enable the guest account. It will give them their own user environment (which will get reset upon logout), and will keep your own account and files relatively safe. If FileVault is on, the guest user gets even better in terms of security as it boots to a Safari-only environment, and your entire startup disk is locked and protected.


Hope this helps!

Apr 11, 2018 10:02 AM in response to Encryptor5000

Hello !

Thanks for your descriptive answer .

After the 4 th point - 4. The Password Reset Assistant should appear. You will be guided through the process of resetting your user account password.

these are the upcoming steps -

If you have forgotten the admin password completely but you have iCloud verification code, all details of Apple ID , iCloud ID , webmail ID and respective passwords , base station or wireless network password for air port utility in records .


Shut down the system through apple logo , press command , R and power key simultaneously , release the keys when apple logo appears , the bar starts loading let it be completed , select the language as English .


Take cursor on top menu bar > click on utilities > click on terminal in the terminal window execute a command resetpassword and click on enter key .


A window appears , select your admin name , enter the password for Apple ID .

Two options will be shown ( a ) previous ( b) next , click on next


Select your user account , you have to press forcefully on the trackpad to get it selected .

Some fields will appear .

New password ……

Verify password ……

Hint ……

Fill up the credentials ( enter a new password ) and click on next then you have to click on restart .


The Mac will restart but you will see pop ups as this Mac can’t connect to iCloud because a problem with your mail address open iCloud preferences for problem.

You will see two options ( a ) Later ( b) iCloud preferences

And on the top right corner web mail ( could be gmail ) pop up will be there stating google password required enter your password for gmail address and showing close and continue .


Open system preferences > click on iCloud you will see the box for keychain is unchecked, so check mark the box a small pop - up will come on the screen after a while to enter iCloud verification code so enter it .

Make sure your trusted mobile is opened , after a while six digit code will come through sms on the mobile .Enter the six digit code on the next pop up .


You will see iCloud Keychain is setting up and a small circle is rotating the box for keychain is configured with iCloud server .


Now , on the top right corner of the desktop a google pop up is showing , click on continue a window will appear enter your gmail password so that is also configured .


Open airport utility through spotlight , click on base station you will see that password is empty , click on edit a pop up window will appear enter the base station or wireless network password .

Keep the box checked for remember this password in my keychain .


The settings will go to default .

Open safari and you have to reset the homepage once again ( open safari preferences click on General , enter the search engine link and take cursor on history > click on home and close safari window , a pop up window will appear change home page , click on it ) .


Lastly shut down the system when login window appears you can enter admin name and " new password " in the fields .


Note : If you enter in user library ( click on finder Go > hold option key and click on library ) > Find a folder keychains you will see login keychain is renamed and its a confirmation that login password has been changed and always be careful once login password is changed don’t delete login_rename …Keychain-db or previous login.Keychain-db from user library > keychain folder , if it is deleted the keychain application will be corrupted .

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forgotten guest user password

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