Resetting Your Mac Password When You Can't Remember It

You can reset a forgotten Mac password using your Apple ID, a recovery key, or another admin account on the same computer

If you cannot remember your Mac login password, you have three main paths forward. The fastest is using your Apple ID — Apple stores a connection between your Mac and your Apple account, and you can use that to create a new password without erasing anything. If you set up a recovery key when you first created your Mac account, that key works too. If neither of those is available, you can reset the password from another admin account on the same Mac. Each method takes a different amount of time and requires different information you may or may not have on hand.

The critical thing to know upfront: you cannot reset a Mac password from a different computer or over the phone. You must be sitting at the Mac itself, at the login screen, with either your Apple ID credentials, a recovery key, or access to another admin account. If you have none of these, you will need to erase the Mac and start over — a process Apple calls an Erase and Reinstall.

Key Takeaways

If you remember your Apple ID email and password, you can reset your Mac password at the login screen without losing any files or programs.
A recovery key is a long string of characters Apple gives you when you first set up two-factor authentication; if you saved it, you can use it to reset your password.
If another person has an admin account on the same Mac, they can reset your password from their own account without needing your Apple ID.
If you have none of these options, you will need to erase the Mac and reinstall macOS, which deletes everything on the drive.
The reset process itself takes 10 to 20 minutes once you have the right credentials; the erase-and-reinstall path takes 1 to 2 hours.

Resetting your password using your Apple ID at the login screen

This is the fastest method if you remember your Apple ID email address and password. At the Mac login screen, you will see a question mark icon or a "Forgot password?" link below the password field. Click it. The Mac will ask you to enter your Apple ID email address — the same one you use for iCloud, the App Store, or any other Apple service.

Once you enter your Apple ID email, the Mac will send a verification code to a trusted device — usually your iPhone, iPad, or another Mac linked to that Apple ID. Check that device for a six-digit code, return to your Mac, and type it in. After the code is accepted, you will be asked to create a new password. Type a password you will remember, confirm it, and press Enter. You will then be logged into your Mac with the new password. No files are deleted; everything stays exactly as it was.

If you do not have access to a trusted device that can receive the verification code, this method will not work. Move to the recovery key method or the other admin account method instead.

Using a recovery key if you saved one

When you first set up two-factor authentication on your Apple ID, Apple gave you a recovery key — a long string of 24 characters, usually formatted like XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. If you wrote this down or saved it somewhere, you can use it to reset your password without needing a trusted device.

At the Mac login screen, click the question mark icon or "Forgot password?" link. When asked for your Apple ID email, enter it. Instead of waiting for a code on another device, look for an option that says "Don't have access to your trusted devices?" or similar. Click that, and you will be asked to enter your recovery key. Type it in exactly as it appears — the hyphens matter. Once the key is accepted, you will create a new password the same way as the Apple ID method above.

The recovery key is a one-time use credential, so it will not work again after you use it. If you need to reset your password a second time in the future, you will need to use your Apple ID, another admin account, or a new recovery key from Apple.

Resetting your password from another admin account on the same Mac

If another person has an admin account on your Mac, they can reset your password without needing your Apple ID or recovery key. This person must be able to log into their own account on the same computer.

Have the other person log in with their own password. Then they should open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), go to General, and select Users & Groups or Accounts. They will see a list of user accounts on the Mac, including yours. They should click the lock icon at the bottom left, enter their own password to unlock the settings, then click your account name. A button labeled "Reset Password" will appear. They click it, enter a temporary password for you, and confirm. You can then log in with that temporary password and change it to something you prefer.

This method works only if the other person is already an admin on the Mac. A standard user account cannot reset another account's password.

What to do if you have none of these options

If you cannot remember your Apple ID password, do not have a recovery key, and have no other admin account on the Mac, you will need to erase the Mac and reinstall macOS. This is a last resort because it deletes everything on the drive — all files, programs, and settings.

To erase and reinstall, restart your Mac and hold Command + R when ready after you hear the startup sound. This boots the Mac into Recovery Mode. From there, you can erase the drive using Disk Utility and then reinstall macOS. The process takes 1 to 2 hours depending on your internet speed and Mac model. After reinstall, you will set up the Mac as if it were new, and you can sign in with your Apple ID to restore files from iCloud backups if you have them.

Before you reach this point, try contacting Apple Support. They can sometimes verify your identity and help you regain access to your Apple ID or provide other options. Have your Mac serial number ready — you can find it by clicking the Apple menu, selecting About This Mac, and looking for Serial Number.

Preventing this problem in the future

Once you have reset your password and regained access to your Mac, take a few steps to avoid this situation again. First, write down your recovery key or store it in a password manager you trust — not in a note on your Mac itself. Second, make sure you remember your Apple ID email and password, or store those in a password manager as well. Third, if you share your Mac with someone else, make sure at least one other person has an admin account, so you have a backup way to reset your password.

You can also set up a password hint when you create a new password. This hint appears at the login screen and might jog your memory if you forget. The hint should be something only you would understand — not something obvious to someone else looking at your Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my Mac password if I do not have internet?

The Apple ID method requires internet to send a verification code to your trusted device. The recovery key method also requires internet to verify the key with Apple's servers. If you have no internet, your only option is to use another admin account on the same Mac, or to erase and reinstall macOS.

Will resetting my password delete my files?

No. Resetting your password using your Apple ID, a recovery key, or another admin account leaves all your files, programs, and settings untouched. Only the erase-and-reinstall method deletes everything.

How long does it take to reset a Mac password?

Using your Apple ID or recovery key takes 10 to 20 minutes from the login screen. Using another admin account takes about 5 minutes. Erasing and reinstalling macOS takes 1 to 2 hours depending on your internet speed.

What is the difference between a recovery key and a password reset disk?

A recovery key is a modern credential Apple gives you when you set up two-factor authentication. A password reset disk is an older method that is no longer used on current Macs. If your Mac is from the last five years, you have a recovery key, not a reset disk.

Can Apple reset my password for me over the phone?

No. Apple Support can help you regain access to your Apple ID or verify your identity, but they cannot remotely reset your Mac password. You must be at the Mac itself with one of the methods described above.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.