Tutorials - Hacks and Tricks

Change Mac User Password

In this tutorial you will see how EASY it is to change Mac's user password without any special boot CD!

Apple is always advertising that Mac is SO DAMN secure. But in reality it really is NOT!

First we have to force mac to let us make a new admin user:
1. Boot computer and hold the "apple" key and the "s" key.
2. Wait for terminal show.
3. Release keys.
4. Type:

/sbin/mount -uaw

5. Press enter.
6. Type:

rm /var/db/.applesetupdone

7. Press enter.
8. Type:

reboot

9. Press enter.

When your computer reboots, it's gonna prompt you to make a new admin user. It will look like you are installing Mac from scratch, but don't worry. Just follow the screen and make a new admin user with ANY name you want and leave the password blank. To make this tutorial easier we will call it "HackPass". We'll be deleting "HackPass" account after we changed our old user password.

Now we will use HackPass account to change other account's password: 1. Open terminal.
2. Type:

sudo passwd shortNameForTheAccountYouWantToChangePassword

3. Type the password for HackPass account. If you remember I told you to not put any password so just leave it blank and press enter.
4. Type new password for the account that is missing password.
5. Retype new password for the account that is missing password.

Now logout of HackPass account, and log back into your old account and type the new password you just defined above. Then go to Settings -> Users and delete the HackPass account.

Done!