MacBook Password Not Working! 6 Verified Solutions to Fix It

It's frustrating when your MacBook password isn't working. If your Mac won't accept the password you set, you can't log in to macOS. That means you can't do anything useful on your computer. The process is the same for any Apple device, including MacBook Pro/Air or iMac.

Your MacBook's login password is the key to all your data. Without it, you can't get into your Mac. Not even if you have Touch ID, or have set it up to let you log in with your Apple Watch after a restart.

So, the MacBook password not working issue can be quite troublesome! But the good news is that there are multiple ways to resolve it. Before we delve into the fixes, let's first understand the reasons behind this error.

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Why isn't my Mac password working?

There are several reasons why your MacBook Pro or Air might not accept your password. You can categorize them into three groups:

• ⌨️ Keyboard

If your MacBook keyboard is having issues, it might type different numbers or symbols than you press.

• ? User

Perhaps you've forgotten your MacBook password and entered the wrong one.

• ?The Mac itself

A software issue could cause your MacBook to fail to recognize your password.

6 Solutions for When Your Mac Password Isn't Working

If your MacBook won't accept your password, what can you do? If you've eliminated these basics, try these six advanced solutions. While troubleshooting your Mac password not working issue, you must ensure data safety. Here are the top six solutions:

Solution 1: Check if Caps Lock is on

If your MacBook isn't accepting your password, you may need to do some basic troubleshooting. For example, make sure that Caps Lock is turned off. You'll want to verify that your Mac password includes both uppercase and lowercase letters.

Type your password carefully. If you've entered the correct password multiple times with no response, it's best to perform a hard restart on your MacBook to fix the issue. You can check if your MacBook's Caps Lock key is enabled by following these simple steps:

Every Mac keyboard has a dedicated key on the left side labeled “Caps Lock.” Press this key once, and then try typing again.

Solution 2: Try your Apple ID password

When you attempt to enter the password for the third time, you'll see a message asking if you want to reset it. Tap either “Reset with Apple ID” or “Restart and show reset options.” Try signing in with your Apple ID password instead:

Step 1: Enter your Apple ID.

Step 2: Your Mac sends the verification code to another device.

Step 3: Choose the user for whom you want to reset the password.

Step 4: Type in your new password,

Step 5: Restart your MacBook.

Solution 3: Use Recovery Mode

If the MacBook password still doesn't work after a restart, try booting into Recovery Mode. If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, follow the steps to use macOS Recovery to reset the password in our article about Apple Silicon Macs.

• Works on M1 Macs

Step one: Turn off your MacBook, and then hold down the power button until you see the option icon.

Step 2: Tap it, and then choose “Restore.”

• For iMac

Step 1. Hold down the Command+R keys and then press the power button.

Step 2: Hold down Command+R until you see a progress bar beneath the Apple logo.

Step 3: To get into Recovery Mode, restart your MacBook. It's best to start by turning it off.

Solution 4: Reset the password with another user account

If you forgot Mac password, you might enter the wrong one repeatedly. Or your Mac doesn't accept the correct one. Now, you have no choice but to reset the password. You can use your Apple ID to reset the Mac login password. Follow the steps:

Step 1: When you see the password reset prompt, tap the arrow icon to proceed.

Click the arrow icon to continue.

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID and its associated password, then click the “Reset Password” option to have the Recovery Assistant launch on your MacBook. You'll get several chances to reset your password. Choose the login problem you're having, then tap “Next.” Follow the on-screen instructions to begin resetting your Mac's password.

Note: If you don't see the Reset option, press Restart. Also, you'll need to have enabled the password reset feature on your Mac.

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How to Reset Mac Password When Forgotten [4 Easy Ways]

You can reset your Mac password using Apple ID, another admin account, FileVault, or in Recovery Mode. Read More >>

Solution 5: Reset the Password with Terminal

All recent versions of macOS support this method of resetting a user password without having to type any complicated terminal commands. Just follow the steps in this guide to get started:

Step 1: Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen.

Step 2: Choose “Restart” from the drop-down menu.

If you have an Intel Mac, press Command + R as soon as you see the screen to start up into Recovery Mode.

Select Utilities as shown:

Step 3: From the Utilities menu, choose Terminal.

4. Type “resetpassword” and press Return.

Step 5: You can now use the Recovery Assistant to reset your user password. Choose a hint, enter your new password, and click “Next.” Your Mac will ask you to restart; once you do, you should be able to log in with your new password.

Solution 6: Reinstall macOS

You can use macOS Recovery (a built-in recovery system) to reinstall macOS. Here's how:

Step 1: Shut down your Mac

Click the Apple menu, then click “Shut Down,” and wait for your Mac to turn off. If you can't shut down your Mac manually, hold the power button for up to 10 seconds to force it to turn off.

< b > Step 2: < /b > Start up from macOS Recovery

To start up from macOS Recovery over Wi-Fi, your Mac needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. Follow these steps:

If your Mac turns on and shows the Startup Options, press and hold the power button. Release the button as soon as you see the options.

Click Options, and then click Continue. When prompted for an administrator account with a known password, select that user and click Next, then enter that administrator user's password.

Step 3: Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery

When you see the Reinstall macOS dialog, your Mac has started up from the recovery system.

Choose “Reinstall macOS.” This won't erase your personal data.

• Click Continue and follow the on-screen instructions.

If the installer asks you to unlock your disk, enter your Mac password. If the installer can't install on your PC or volume, erase the disk first. When the installer asks you to choose between installing on Macintosh HD - Data or Macintosh HD, choose Macintosh HD. Let the installation finish without putting your Mac to sleep. The screen might remain blank for several minutes while your Mac restarts and displays a progress bar.

Recover Data When macOS Is Stuck

There are people claiming their Macs have freezing issues that require reinstalling macOS. Generally, such Mac problems might immediately raise concerns about losing important data. Thus, it's advisable to protect users' data with a dedicated data recovery tool – tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac.

This software is designed to help recover data from file system errors, failures, and accidental deletion. Its intuitive user interface enables even inexperienced users to quickly restore deleted files. The main features of Data Recovery Software include:

• File preview
• File filter
• Data protection
• Two scanning modes
• Recovery to the cloud
• Create a bootable media

So, download the Mac Data Recovery tool now to get back your photos, videos, and other files on your computer.

Step 1: Search for the Missing File

Select the disk location on macOS Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, or the latest Sonoma where you lost the files (it can be an internal HDD/SSD or a removable storage device). Then, click on the “Start Lost File Search” button.

Note: Before you proceed with data recovery, it's recommended that you click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Step 2: Browse the scan results

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will scan the content of the disk volume you select immediately and display the scanning results.

Step 3: Select the files and recover them

From the scan results, select the files you want to preview and then click the “Recover” button to get them back.

Last Words

When your password doesn't work, try these 6 common fixes to resolve the issue with your Mac password. If the MacBook password problem persists, you can reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. Additionally, if you're unable to access your data due to a password issue, the Data Recovery Wizard tool can come to your rescue!

Frequently Asked Questions About MacBook Password Not Working

Please refer to the following FAQ for a better understanding of this topic:

**1. How do I unlock my MacBook password?** If you've forgotten your MacBook password, there are several ways to attempt unlocking it: 1. **Reset Password with Apple ID:** - If your MacBook has FileVault full-disk encryption and you remember your Apple ID, you can reset the password through the Apple ID login page. - Visit [iCloud](https://www.icloud.com/), click "Find My iPhone/iPad," and select your MacBook. Under "Actions," choose "Erase Mac." This will remove the password and restore it to factory settings. Make sure to back up important data first! 2. **Use Recovery Mode:** - Restart your MacBook and press Command + R immediately as it starts up to enter Recovery Mode. - From the top menu bar, select "Utilities" > "Terminal." - In Terminal, type `resetpassword` and press Enter. - Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password. 3. **Contact Apple Support:** - If none of these methods work, you may need to contact Apple Support or schedule a Genius Bar appointment for further assistance. Remember that resetting your password might erase your data, so ensure you have backed up important files before attempting this.

You can choose to use the password reset option to unlock your MacBook password. Here's how: 1. **Restart your MacBook**: First, turn off your MacBook by pressing and holding the power button until it shuts down. Then, press the power button again to restart it. 2. **Enter Recovery Mode**: While restarting, immediately press and hold the `Command` + `R` keys together until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe. This will boot your MacBook into Recovery Mode. 3. **Select a Language**: Choose your preferred language and click "Continue." 4. **Recovery Options**: On the Utilities menu, click on "Terminal." This will open the Terminal application. 5. **Reset Password**: In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter: ``` resetpassword ``` 6. **Follow the Prompt**: The Reset Password utility will appear. Select the disk that contains your macOS installation (usually "Macintosh HD") and then choose the user account for which you want to reset the password. 7. **Set a New Password**: Enter a new password, confirm it, and provide a hint (optional). Make sure to choose a strong and unique password. 8. **Save Changes**: Click "Save" to apply the new password. The utility will inform you that the password has been changed successfully. 9. **Exit Recovery Mode**: Close the Terminal window and click "Reboot" from the Utilities menu to restart your MacBook with the new password. Now you should be able to log in to your MacBook using the new password you've just set. Remember to update this password in any other services or devices where you've used the same credentials for security purposes.

Step 1. If you see the option to restart and reset the password, click “Restart Mac.”

Step 2. Select the user for whom you want to reset the password, and click the “Next” button.

Step 3: Type your new password, then click “Next.”

Step 4: After the password reset is complete, click the “Reboot” button.

What should I do if I forget my computer password?

If you forgot your Mac's login password, you can reset it using your recovery key. Click the arrow next to “Reset it using your recovery key.” Then, type in your recovery key and click Next. Finally, follow the on-screen instructions to reset your login password.

How do I remove the password from my laptop?

You can remove a passcode from both your Mac and iCloud Keychain. Here's how: 1. Open "System Preferences": Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen, then choose "System Preferences." 2. Select "Keychain Access": In the System Preferences window, find and click on the "Keychain Access" icon. 3. Choose the keychain: In the Keychain Access window, you'll see a list of different keychains on the left, including "Login," "System," and "iCloud." Find and click on the keychain you wish to manage. 4. Locate the passcode to delete: In the right-hand window, search or browse to find the passcode you want to delete. It might be under "Website & App Passwords" or "Identities." 5. Delete the passcode: Once you've found the correct passcode, double-click it to open the details window. Then, click the lock icon at the top and enter your administrator password to allow changes. Next, click the "-" button to delete the passcode. 6. Confirm deletion: When prompted, click "Delete" to confirm the removal. For a passcode in the iCloud Keychain, you'll also need to do the following in your iCloud settings: 1. Open "System Preferences," then select "iCloud." 2. In the iCloud window, uncheck "Keychain," then click "Apply" to disconnect. 3. Check "Keychain" again and follow the prompts to sign back into iCloud, which will sync your changes and remove the selected passcode. Please note that deleting a passcode may affect login information for associated apps or services. Make sure to back up or record important information before deletion.

Step 1: On your Mac, choose Apple menu > “System Preferences,” then click “Passwords” in the sidebar.

Step two: Click on the site's “info” button.

Step 3: Choose “Edit.”

Step 4. Click Remove Passkey or Remove Password.

Step 5: Finally, click “Remove Password” or “Delete Key.”

How do I reset my MacBook?

To perform a hard reset on your MacBook, follow these steps:

Step one: Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen.

Step 2: Select General from the sidebar.

Step 3: Tap Restore or Transfer on the right.

Step 4: Choose Erase All Content and Settings.