Reset Mac Password

[Skillachi]

Hello folks,



Is there a way to reset a Mac master password without remembering the old one if you forgot what it was? Am not referring to the regular user password.

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Originally Posted by Skillachi

Is there a way to reset a Mac master password without remembering the old one if you forgot what it was? Am not referring to the regular user password.

If you are talking the Filevault master password the answer is the NSA won't even be able to mount the user folder. If the OS is 10.7.x then there are ways to do it by using the Apple ID or if they happened to record the code that was generated when they turned on filevault 2.

[Skillachi]

Originally Posted by anonymous Mac Tech

If you are talking the Filevault master password the answer is the NSA won't even be able to mount the user folder. If the OS is 10.7.x then there are ways to do it by using the Apple ID or if they happened to record the code that was generated when they turned on filevault 2.

I know its possible change a single user password using theses commands by

Holding Down Apple+ S when booting into single user mode

#sh /etc/rc
#password yourusername
#reboot

but you would not have access to the other accounts on the system or the master password to install programs when ask for the master password. So am guessing there is no way to install programs like skype without the master password?

Or how would the keyring be affected?

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Originally Posted by Skillachi

I know its possible change a single user password using theses commands by

Holding Down Apple+ S when booting into single user mode

#sh /etc/rc
#password yourusername
#reboot

but you would not have access to the other accounts on the system or the master password to install programs when ask for the master password. So am guessing there is no way to install programs like skype without the master password?

Or how would the keyring be affected?

I think you have Master password and admin password mixed up. There really is a big difference between the two. So, which do you need?

If you need to change the admin password the method for doing so depends on what version of OSX.

[Skillachi]

I need the master password not the admin

[andyroe208]

Not sure if this would help

First, turn off "FileVault" on any and all accounts created while the current "master password" has been in effect. This may take some time, and requires sufficient free space on the hard drive.

The "master password" is associated with the "FileVaultMaster.keychain" and "FileVaultMaster.cer" in the computer's main "/Library/Keychains" folder. If these files are removed, the system will think that a "master password" has not been set. It might be a good idea to keep the files backed up somewhere if you happen to have any backups of old "FileVault" sparse images somewhere, in case you need to get in to them and happen to remember the old "master password" at some point.

Anyway, after removing those files, it should be possible to set a new "master password" from the "Security" pref pane. If "FileVault" is subsequently turned on, the disk images will be created, incorporating the new "master password".

Just to emphasize, the key is that any existing disk images will not be associated with the new password so that is why it is important to turn off "FileVault" for any pre-existing "FileVault" accounts, then to turn it back on only after the new password is in place.

The above applied to Panther and Tiger, but I should mention that I haven't tested it personally under Leopard.

[anonymous Mac Tech]

Originally Posted by andyroe208

Not sure if this would help

First, turn off "FileVault" on any and all accounts created while the current "master password" has been in effect. This may take some time, and requires sufficient free space on the hard drive.

But the thing is if you don't know the master password you can't turn off filevault.

[andyroe208]

Of course you are correct there. I don't really get that many Macs to repair so I wasn't sure if you could turn it off without, it makes sense that you can't however the rest should still apply although not sure as this hasn't been tested on the latest software, delete the files and you should be able to set a new one

[nightkingdoms]

Yes, to reset the master password you just delete FileVaultKeychain.keychain in Library/Keychains/.

To reset a user/admin password, you follow this (just in case someone comes across this thread later and needs it):

1. Shut down your computer
2. Turn on your computer while pressing Command+S
3. You will see command line. Do not be worried.
4. Type in /sbin/mount -uw /
5. Type in launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.Apple.DirectoryServices.plist
6. Type in dscl . -passwd /Users/username password
7. Replace username with the Account Holder's First Name and password with the password you want it
to be.
8. Type in exit.
9. At the log on screen go ahead and log on with your new password.
10. You've just recovered your administrator password.

If it's Lion, replace #5 with this:
launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist