Fortunately Apple foresaw this problem, and made it easy to reset your MacBook password directly from your laptop. And don’t worry, you won’t have to reset your MacBook to factory settings. And while the thought of it makes you panic, it might be a good time to back up before something worse happens.
The entire password reset process can be completed in regarding 10 minutes or so, although it all depends on there being at least one basic piece of information that will verify your identity, such as the Apple ID registered on the device. If you also forget these details, you will likely have to contact Apple for assistance at this point.
Preparing to Reset MacBook Password
For the vast majority of users, resetting a MacBook password is as simple as entering an incorrect password three times to trigger the macOS password help prompt. As explained by Apple in the support document, the prompt will ask you if you want to reset the password using your Apple ID or if you want to restart your laptop to see the reset options available to you.
The exact option you receive will depend on how you set up your MacBook and which version of MacOS you are running. In general, most users will see the option to reset the password with an Apple ID, which is as simple as logging into an Apple account, however your MacBook may restart before you are asked to enter this information. Depending on your settings, you may also receive a verification code on one of your other devices which you will have to enter on your MacBook while resetting your password.
However, if you’ve previously turned on the FileVault option and set up a recovery key associated with it, Apple says that you may be prompted to enter that recovery key following restarting your laptop in order to unlock the device. Once this is achieved, you will be guided through resetting your password, according to Slash Gear.
How to reset password when forgotten
Once you complete the above steps, whether that involves signing in with your Apple ID or entering a recovery key, you will be granted access to the password reset feature. Although macOS will not show your old password, you will be able to create a new one so you can log in with it from now on. This process is very simple.
Choose the user for whom you want to reset the password and click Next.
Choose your new MacBook password and click Next.
Enter your new MacBook password and click Next.
Select the restart option.
