Can't unlock admin profile in system preferences

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Level 1

8 points

Can't unlock admin profile in system preferences

Good morning.

I recently got a new hard drive for my Mac Book Pro.

I am unable to unlock my system preferences to make changes. I am logged into the main admin account and I am able to change the main admin account password, but when I go to unlock the account settings, it keeps rejecting my password.

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2

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As you can see in picture 2, I am completely able to change the Admin password to anything.

Any password change is reflected in my computer log on, and even when I link my laptop to my iCloud and need to enter my Admin password. However, the moment I try to change the system preferences, it doesn't accept any password I enter.

MacBook Pro, macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)

Posted on Jun 29, 2018 6:53 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 30, 2018 4:02 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

There have been quite a lot of similar reports recently.

You may be able to fix this if you do NOT have a firmware password set, and have NOT activated FileVault.

The fix involves starting up in single-user mode.

See for example here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8259250

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Answer 2

Jun 30, 2018 2:12 AM in response to misssa189

That is because your “Administrator” account is NOT an administrator. Look right there, it says “Standard”.

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Answer 3

misssa189 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 30, 2018 4:03 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you! I followed the steps in the post that you linked to, and was able to create an admin account. From there I just merged it with my previous account and everything was fine.

Really appreciate it.

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Answer 4

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Jun 30, 2018 2:24 AM in response to misssa189

In your second screen shot try to check the box of allow user to administrator this computer .

If admin account name is changed and converted into standard account , enter in single user mode .

Choose Apple menu > Restart, or press the power button if your Mac is turned off.

Press Command-S as your Mac starts up.
The screen is black with standard white text. You can now run the UNIX commands that you want.

Execute this command .

mv /var/db/.AppleSetupDone /var/db/.OldAppleSetupDone

Then press enter key after that .

exit

Restart the Mac , then it will prompt language then create a new user account .

Note : in the first terminal command there is space after mv and also space after AppleSetupDone.

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Can't unlock admin profile in system preferences

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