Mac OS X: Changing or resetting an account password

Resetting a user's password - Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 or later

Use Accounts preferences to reset an account password.

1. Log in with an administrator account. Tip: If you don't know the password of any administrator accounts, see "Resetting the original administrator account password" below.
2. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences.
3. From the View menu choose Accounts.
4. Click the lock button if it appears locked.
5. Select the username whose password you want to change.
6. Click the Reset Password button (Mac OS X 10.4 only).
7. Enter a new password in both the Password and Verify fields, and hint.
8. Click the Reset Password button (Mac OS X 10.4 only).
9. If a dialog box appears with the message "Your Keychain password will be changed to your new account password," click OK.

Important: Passwords for administrator accounts should not be blank.

Resetting a user's password - Mac OS X 10.2 through 10.2.8

Use Accounts preferences to reset an account password.

1. Log in with an administrator account. Tip: If you don't know the password of any administrator accounts, see "Resetting the original administrator account password" below.
2. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences.
3. From the View menu choose Accounts.
4. Click the lock button if it appears locked.
5. Select the username whose password you want to change.
6. Click Edit User.
7. Navigate to the New Password field.
8. Enter a new password in both the Password and Verify fields.
9. Click OK.
10. If a dialog box appears with the message "Your Keychain password will be changed to your new account password," click OK.

Important: Passwords for administrator accounts should not be blank.

Regardless of how many characters are actually in a Mac OS X 10.2 password, seven bullet characters (•••••••) will appear in the New Password and Verify fields the next time the password is edited.


Resetting a user's password - Mac OS X 10.1.5 or earlier

Use Users preference pane to reset a user's password.

1. Log in with an administrator account. Tip: If you don't know the password of any administrator accounts, see "Resetting the original administrator account password" below.
2. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences.
3. From the View menu choose Users.
4. Click the lock button if it appears locked.
5. Select the username whose password you wish to change.
6. Click Edit User.
7. Enter a new password in both the Password and Verify fields.
8. Click Save.

Important: Passwords for administrator accounts should not be blank.

Regardless of how many characters are actually in the password, thirteen bullet characters (•••••••••••••) will appear in the Password and Verify fields the next time the password is edited.

Resetting the original administrator account password

Follow these steps to reset a password when there is only one administrator account on the computer, or if the original administrator account (of several) needs a password reset. "Original" administrator account refers to the one that was created immediately after installing Mac OS X. If the original administrator password is known, the original administrator user may reset the passwords of other administrator accounts using the steps described above.

1. Start up from a Mac OS X Install CD (one whose version is closest the the version of Mac OS X installed). You should first disable Open Firmware password protection, if it is enabled. Hold the C key as the computer starts.
2. Choose Reset Password from the Installer menu (or Utilities menu in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger). Tip: If you don't see this menu or menu choice, you're probably not started from the CD yet.
3. Select your Mac OS X hard disk volume.
4. Set the user name of your original administrator account.
   
   Important: Do not select "System Administrator (root)". This is actually a reference to the root user. Do not confuse it with a normal administrator account.
   
   
5. Enter a new password.
6. Click Save.

After following these steps, you'll want to also follow the steps in Mac OS X 10.4: Keychain Access asks for keychain "login" after changing login password.