Admin login issues

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Level 1

8 points

Admin login issues

I have a MacBook Pro 15" purchased in June 2016, running macOS High Sierra. There is one login account when you open up the laptop and I can log in from there - using my user name and password. When I go to Users and Groups, that account is listed as a standard user and not assigned as an ADMIN. I click the lock to make a change and it asks for Admin User Name and Password. I enter the same info I did when I open up the machine and it will not take it - because it is a standard login, not an Admin login.

I can't add or remove any accounts. I've reset the password and gone into Recovery Mode and reinstalled the operating system...with no change. How can I 1) make my account an admin account or 2) remove ALL users and then add myself as an admin? I don't know the admin name/password it is looking for. Why is there no admin account set up?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, iOS 10.3.3

Posted on Jun 13, 2018 1:40 PM

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Answer 1

CyxUser1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 14, 2018 8:15 AM in response to CyxUser1

So I finally got to the black screen and entered the commands above...and it worked. I now have a new ADMIN account on my laptop. THANK YOU!

But now I have a secondary issue. I'm trying to delete the "old" standard account. I hit the unlock icon, enter my admin password and hit the - (minus) key to delete the standard account. It says "to delete user "xxxx" you must enter their password". It autofills the username but the password doesn't work. I enter the same password for that standard user, as when I open up the machine at login...nothing. So I reset the password and tried to deleted again...nothing.

Any ideas on how I can permanently delete this "standard" account without knowing a password?

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Answer 2

Jun 14, 2018 8:22 AM in response to CyxUser1

Only the Administrator can delete accounts, and you cannot use the password of the Account you are deleting.

At least one Administrator account must remain, or the delete will not be completed.

You need to enter the Administrator name, and the password that matches that Administrator.

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Answer 3

Jun 13, 2018 6:38 PM in response to Kappy

There is one space after mount and another after -uw

There is only one space after rm on that line

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Answer 4

CyxUser1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 14, 2018 7:50 AM in response to Kappy

When I restart the computer and hold down the Command+S - it does not go to a black screen with text. It just goes to the standard login screen with my name and asking for my password.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jun 13, 2018 4:23 PM in response to CyxUser1

There is a checkbox you must check.

Only an Admin user can change that setting. You cannot because you do not have Admin permissions.

How to Create a New User Account if You Cannot Access Your Admin Account

Reboot the computer. At the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-S keys to start into Single-user Mode. You will boot to a black screen with scrolling white text, release the keys and wait until it finishes. Enter the following lines at the command prompt pressing RETURN after each:

mount -uw /

rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

reboot

After you reboot the computer you will be taken to the Setup Assistant. When you get to the point where you are asked to set up your new user account, create a new admin account. Be sure to name this user account something different than the admin user account that already exists on the system. When you finish the Setup Assistant, it will automatically log you into the new account.

You can transfer your files from the old account to the new one. See Transferring files from one User Account to another. Once you have moved all your files into your new account, you can delete the old account using Accounts or Users & Groups preferences.

Also, see How To Create A New Administrator Account - Hack Mac.

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Admin login issues

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