Whether your Mac asks you for certain information or you're seeking help from an Apple Advisor, Genius, or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP), there may come a time when you need to have easy access to your serial number, hardware configuration, passwords, and so forth. Print (or copy/paste) and fill out the "cheat sheet" in this article, then store it in a safe and secure place to avoid others from finding out your important passwords. Remember to update it should you ever change a password.
The answers to some of these questions can be found in System Information. To quickly access it, choose About This Mac from the Apple () menu, then click "More Info...".
| My Mac hardware | ||
|---|---|---|
| Questions | Answers | Notes |
| What kind of Mac do I have? | _________________________________ | For example, an iMac, a MacBook Pro, and so forth |
| How much memory is installed in my Mac? | _______ GB of RAM | For example, 4 GB of RAM |
| What kind of processor(s) does my Mac have? | _________________________________ | Find this in the About This Mac window or System Profiler |
| How large is my Mac's hard drive? | _______ GB | For example, 250 GB large |
| My Mac's serial number is: | _________________________________ | Find it on your Mac, in System Profiler, in the About This Mac window, on your Mac's shipping box, or on your sales receipt |
| When was my Mac purchased? | _________________________________ | |
| What is my AppleCare Protection Plan information? | Agreement #: | Fill this in if you have extended coverage with an AppleCare Protection Plan |
| My Mac OS X software and my Apple ID | ||
|---|---|---|
| Questions | Answers | Notes |
| What version of OS X do I have installed currently? | _________ | Such as OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.1 or Lion v10.7.4; you can find this in the About This Mac window. |
| What version of OS X came with my computer? | _________ | If you're not sure, see this article |
| In OS X, my account name is: | _________________________________ | If you don't know, choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then choose Accounts from the View menu |
| My OS X account password is: | _________________________________ | |
| If my account is not an admin account, which account is an admin and what is its password? | name: ________________________ password: _____________________ |
Fill this in only if you aren't using an administrator account; usually you will be the admin if you're the owner of the computer |
| Does this user account have FileVault enabled? | ___ Yes ___ No | If you don't know, check Security preferences in System Preferences |
| My master password for this computer (if set) is: | _________________________________ | To see if a master password has been set, check Security preferences in System Preferences |
| My Apple ID is: | _________________________________ | An Apple ID gives you easy access to Apple services, such as the App Store, FaceTime, and iCloud. To learn more, see this webpage |
| My Apple ID password is: | _________________________________ | |
| Do I use Time Machine to back up my computer? | ___ Yes ___ No | See this article for more information about Time Machine |
| My Internet connection (optional) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Questions | Answers | Notes |
| Who is my Internet Service Provider (ISP)? | _________________________________ | Such as Comcast, NetZero, RoadRunner, AOL, EarthLink, Cox, and so forth |
| What is my ISP's support phone number? | _________________________________ | |
| What is my ISP's support website? | www. _________________________________ | |
| If I have an account with my ISP (to connect to the Internet), what is the user name and password: | name: ________________________ password: _____________________ |
|
| What kind of equipment do I use to connect to the Internet via my ISP? | For example, do you use a third-party modem/router provided by your ISP? Do you use an Apple AirPort base station? Do you connect wirelessly, via Ethernet, or both? | |
| If I usually connect wirelessly to a password-protected access point, what is the access point's name and password? | wireless network name: ________________________ password: _____________________ |
OS X can remember this information for your convenience, but you may wish to have it written down here as well |
| Does my phone work through my Internet connection (VoIP)? | ___ Yes ___ No | If your phone works through your Internet connection (even if your ISP is not your phone service provider), you may need to use a different phone to contact your ISP's support for Internet connection issues |
| What other computers or devices use the same Internet connection, if any? | For example: Other Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, gaming systems, or DVRs on your home network | |
See What to ask if you're having issues sending, receiving, or configuring Mail for a detailed sheet where you can write down your email settings.
FaceTime is not available in all countries or regions.