Written by
Connie YangWhen you perform any task that requires root privileges, such as installing or deleting an app, changing system settings, or starting an update, the system will prompt you to enter the admin name and password for authentication.
So, how to find the administrator name and password on Mac? Whether you are a guest user of a shared Mac who receives pop-ups for an admin password, or an admin user forgot your Mac admin name and password, stop here. We'll help you find, recover, or reset your Mac's administrator name and password.
How to find the administrator's name and password on Mac?
The admin name and password, in other words, the admin account, is the macOS user account that has the admin privileges. If you set up your Mac, it's also just the account that you often use to log in to your Mac.
If you forget the admin name or the Mac is not yours but a shared one, how to find the administrator name and password on the Mac? Here are the steps:
- Click the Apple icon > System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs).
- Select Users & Groups.
- On the right panel, you'll see the administrator's name.
The administrator password is invisible in System Settings due to security and privacy protection reasons.
If your account name is labeled "Admin", you are the administrator for this machine. Just use your password to deal with the tasks requiring admin privilege.
If you forgot your Mac admin password, you have to reset it. However, in Users & Groups settings, resetting the admin password asks for the old password. To fix it, move to our next part.
How to recover or reset your Mac administrator password if you forgot it?
"My administrator name and password on my Mac are not working."
"I forgot my administrator password for my Mac."
"I forgot my administrator name and password so I can't open the System Preferences to reset it."
If you encounter the scenarios mentioned above, follow these ways to try to recover or reset your admin password on your Mac.
⓵ Passwords are case-sensitive. If you fail to log in to your Mac with the admin password you type in, check if you've mistakenly typed the uppercase or lowercase characters.
⓶ Continue entering the wrong password until triggering the Password Hint window (if you've set it). Then, follow the alert to recover your Mac admin password. If it still fails, reset your admin password with your Apple ID.
⓷ If you haven't set a password hint, you have to find or reset the admin password on your Mac with Terminal. This requires you to enter macOS Recovery Mode.
- Enter macOS Recovery Mode.
(Jump to the next solution if it asks for the admin authentication) - Select Utilities on the Apple menu bar > Terminal.
- Enter the following command and press Return to invoke the Reset Password assistant. resetpassword
- Choose "I forgot my password"(if you are the admin), or select "Forgot all passwords" (if you are a guest user) and select your account.
- Enter a new password and verify it.
⓸ If your Mac asks for an admin password before entering Recovery Mode, taking your Mac to the Apple Support Center is the only solution to recover or reset the forgotten Mac administrator password.
The following are what you should take as proof of ownership:
- Original purchase receipt from Apple or an authorized reseller.
- Invoice or proof of purchase with your name, Mac model, and serial number.
- Your government-issued ID.
- Your Apple ID credentials (If used for activation lock).
Of course, don't forget to take with your Mac device.
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