Reset a login password

Sometimes a user’s login password needs to be reset—for example, when the user has forgotten the login password and can’t use a password hint to remember it.

When a user’s login password is reset, a new default keychain is created to store the user’s passwords. For more information about keychain passwords, see About your keychain password.

Reset your login password using your Apple ID

If you associated your user account with your Apple ID, you can use your Apple ID to reset your login password.

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, then click FileVault.

    Open the FileVault pane for me

  2. Click the lock icon to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password.

  3. Click the Turn Off FileVault button, if you see it.

    FileVault must be off to use your Apple ID to reset your login password. If you see a Turn On FileVault button, FileVault is already turned off.

  4. Choose View > Users & Groups.

    Open Users & Groups preferences for me

  5. Log in to your account. In the login window, click the question mark in the password field, then click the arrow in the dialog that appears.

  6. Enter an Apple ID and password, then click Reset Password.

Reset the password of specific users

An administrator can reset the passwords of other users.

  1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.

    Open Users & Groups preferences for me

  2. Click the lock icon to unlock it, then enter an administrator name and password.

  3. Select a user, then click Reset Password.

If your Mac is a server, use the Server app to reset server users’ passwords. For instructions, see Reset a user’s password in Server Help.