Spoiler: logging into your MacBook without a password is not nearly as difficult or annoying as it sounds.

It seems like every service, website, and device is tied to a password. Need to buy something off Amazon or looking to pay a bill on a banking app? Make sure to know your login details. It is because of this that a lot of folks use the same password for nearly everything. In fact, most people, 51% as reported by the Ponemon Institute, reuse passwords across personal and business accounts. You do not need to be a security expert to figure that this is an issue and the reason why it is recommended to try to come up with unique credentials.

With so many services, websites, and devices that use passwords, it may not come as a surprise that people may forget their passwords. Especially if those passwords are changed from time to time. In many situations, this is not a big deal. A lot of websites offer their users the ability to recover it with a few emails.

However, when it comes to your MacBook, recovering your password is not as simple. Opening your MacBook and drawing a blank when it comes to your identification. What does a MacBook user do?

Q: Help! I have forgotten the password for my MacBook and I cannot log on! What do I do?

A: No need to panic, because you can create a new MacBook password in several ways without having to wipe your computer’s hard drive. Nearly all of them can be done on your computer.

Using Your Apple ID

This will only work if your Apple ID is linked to your MacBook login.

1. Turn on your MacBook and wait for the main login screen with the user’s name and text block to type in the password.
2. Type in the wrong password three times. When that is finished, you will be asked to recover your password using your Apple ID.
3. Enter in the email address and password connected to your Apple ID, and follow the prompts to begin creating a new password.

Turning on Recovery Mode

This is a much more complicated method than the above one, but if the user would rather reset their password, this is the way to go about that.

1. Make sure your MacBook is off, and press and hold down both the Command and R keys.
2. Turn on the MacBook, while holding down those keys until you see the Apple logo. This will activate Recovery Mode and bring up a menu of options.
3. On the menu, click on the Utilities and then click on Terminal. This will bring up another window.
4. Type the following: resetpassword and then hit the Return key on the keyboard.
5. Closeout of the terminal, and a Reset Password tool will be prompted.
6. When that window opens, click on the user you would like to reset the password for.
7. Click on the user you would like to reset the password for and create a new password for that user.
   • In that same menu, there is an option to create a password hint, which will be helpful in the future.
8. After finishing creating a new password, click on Restart and your MacBook will reboot.
9. Let the MacBook do its usual start-up sequence, and you can begin to start using your new password.

Passwords, passwords, and more passwords!

While for some people, it is ideal to utilize similar passwords, it is best to have separate ones for each device, website, etc. Even with that in mind, it is best to come up with distinct ones to combat any potential security threat. What to do if you have too many different passwords and you forget?

Well, now you know how to get yourself out of this situation.

At MicroReplay, we know a thing or two about MacBooks and how to repair these devices. With over twenty plus years of experience, our company specializes in repairing liquid damaged MacBooks and other high-end laptops.

In need of a liquid spill or cracked screen repair? Book a repair with us today!

Other posts of interest:

• How a shortage of Chromebooks impacts K through 12 schools
• You’re doing it wrong: How to disinfect your MacBook without damaging it.
• Why putting your liquid-damaged MacBook in a bag of rice is not ideal
• The ins-and-outs of MacBook battery management and preservation