Mac 101: Reset your Mac OS X password

By Dave Caolo

We've all done this.* It's time to install something or run Software Update, but first we've got to enter our password. What was it again? Oops.

You can reset your password with the CD (or DVD) that came with your Mac, but if you don't have it, try this tip from Hackszine. Restart your machine while holding down the Command Key (or "Apple Key") and the "S" key. This will start your Mac up in "Single User Mode."

Now it's command line time.** Don't worry, it's just three lines:

  • #sh /etc/rc
  • #passwd yourusername
  • #reboot

Ta-dah! You may return to what you were originally doing. Just write that new password down first.

*Well, not us, but, you know...our "friend."

[Via Lifehacker]

**Update: this post has raised some understandable security concerns among our readers. Our own Mike Rose had this to say:

"Not this caveat, from a commenter at Hackazine: if you have a FileVault-protected home directory, you cannot use this hack. Changing your password from the command line will render your home directory completely inaccessible, probably permanently."

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