Your Apple ID is the account you use to sign in to all Apple services. If you forgot your Apple ID or aren't sure you have one, there are a few ways to find it. You can also reset your password to regain access.
- I Forgot My Apple Macbook Password Forgot
- I Forgot My Apple Macbook Password
- I Forgot My Apple Macbook Password Settings
See if you're already signed in with your Apple ID
Reboot your Mac as usual. If you have forgotten your Mac's password, type in a wrong combination three times. After that, your Mac will offer a password recovery procedure using your Apple ID. Select Reset Password to initiate password recovery. Type in your Apple ID and password when requested. To use your Apple ID to reset an account's password, the Apple ID must be associated with that account. You would have associated your Apple ID with your user account either when you initially set up your Mac or when you added user accounts. How to reset your Mac user account password using your Apple ID. If you set up Apple ID Unlock when you created your user account, you're in luck. This is the easiest way to reset your password. At your Mac's lock screen, try entering a password three times. A new option will appear after the third failed attempt.
Follow these steps to see if you're signed in on one of your devices with your Apple ID:
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Look for your Apple ID in your iCloud or Media & Purchases settings.
iCloud
Media & Purchases
Tap Settings, tap [your name], then tap Media & Purchases. In iOS 13 or earlier, tap iTunes & App Stores instead.
You can also try these other services:
- Tap Settings, then tap Passwords. In iOS 13 or earlier, tap Passwords & Accounts.
- Tap Settings, choose Messages, then tap Send & Receive.
- Tap Settings, then tap FaceTime.
If you know your Apple ID, but can't turn off Activation Lock, learn what to do.
On your Mac
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Apple ID.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Internet Accounts, then select an iCloud account from the sidebar.
- Open App Store, then choose Store > View My Account.
- Open FaceTime, then choose FaceTime > Preferences.
- Open Messages, then choose Messages > Preferences, then click iMessage.
On your Apple TV
- Open Settings, select Users and Accounts, then choose iCloud.
- Open Settings, select Users and Accounts, select your account, then choose Store.
On your PC
- Open iCloud for Windows.
- Open iTunes on your PC, choose Account, then select View My Account. If you're signed in to iTunes with your Apple ID, you'll see your account name and email address.
On the web
You can see if you're signed in with your Apple ID on iCloud.com or by going to your Apple ID account page. If you aren't signed in, your Apple ID might prefill on the sign in screen.
You can also look up your Apple ID by entering the full name and email address associated with your Apple ID.
If your mobile phone number is your Apple ID, you might not be able to look up your Apple ID.
I Forgot My Apple Macbook Password Forgot
From iCloud.com
- Go to iCloud.com.
- If you're already signed in to iCloud, go to Account Settings.
From your Apple ID account page
- Go to your Apple ID account page and click Forgot Apple ID or password.
- When you're asked to enter your Apple ID, click 'If you forgot your Apple ID', and you can look it up.
- Enter your first name, last name, and email address. If you enter the wrong email address, you can try again with a different one.
If your mobile number is your Apple ID, these steps won't work.
Try a different email address
Usually, your Apple ID is your email address.* If the steps above don't work, try signing in with each prior email address that you might have used as an Apple ID.
* In some countries and regions, you can use your phone number as your Apple ID.
Learn more about your Apple ID
- If you want to change your Apple ID after you find it, we recommend that you update it in Settings for all of your Apple apps and services.
- You only need one Apple ID. Using multiple Apple IDs might be confusing when you access purchased content or use Apple services.
FaceTime isn't available in all countries or regions.
Due to the robust security within Apple's new macOS operating system, there is a high emphasis on data protection. Whether you're simply logging in, downloading new software, or trying to delete files or apps from the hard drive, you will always need to input your Mac password. Here are a few ways you can remember or reset it and get back to using your Mac.
How to avoid forgetting passwords?
Often when Mac users forget their passwords, it's the consequence of having a cluttered Mac. With an overload of information to sieve through every day, people have a tendency to forget information. So, first and foremost, you should clean up your Mac to make sure your new password is the one entering you into a tidy and organised computer.
I Forgot My Apple Macbook Password
With CleanMyMac X, you can remove large and unwanted files, organising your digital folders and clearing your physical headspace. With its smart, one-click cleaning approach and powerful scanning, you can swiftly dispose of useless documents and apps which may even be slowing your Mac down. With CleanMyMac, you can launch a Smart Scan, removing systems junk, photo and file duplicates, and everything else that will clog up your Mac.
In addition, this amazing tool is free to download, so what are you waiting for?
How to reset a password
Get a password hint
I Forgot My Apple Macbook Password Settings
Before resetting your password, you should always check to see if the password hint jogs your memory. The ‘hint' is a phrase you entered relating to the password when you first set it up, and is triggered once you make 3 incorrect password attempts:
- Open System Preferences (the app with the cog icon).
- Select ‘Users & Groups.'
- Click the Lock icon in the bottom left to make changes.
- Press the Return key 3 times.
The screen will shake each time you press Return, with the third shake generating the password hint which will appear below the Password field. Hopefully this initiates a Eureka Moment making you remember the Login and brings an end to the password perils.
Sometimes though, the hint doesn't show up. That's because the Mac wasn't set up to show password hints in the Login Options – only modified by logging into your Mac. Fortunately, there are an array of other solutions to finding your password.
Change password from another account
In the event that you happen to share your Mac with another person, and they have their own account, you can use their Login to reset your password. Or, if you have a different account on the Mac that you know the password to, you can recover your Mac admin password by following these steps:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left of the tools bar and click Log Out.
- Select the alternative account and enter the password.
- Open System Preferences > Users & Groups.
- Click the Lock icon in the bottom left.
- Enter the password again.
- In the Sidebar, select the account with the missing password.
- Click change password.
- Fill in the New Password, Verify and Password Hint fields.
- Click Change Password.
Now, the password for that account has been changed, allowing you to log in using the new password. However, this doesn't change the password for the Keychain (macOS's password management system), and you'll be asked when you log into the account to update the keychain password. This requires you to enter the old forgotten password, so you'll have to click ‘Create New Keychain'.
This introduces a further problem, because if the other user isn't the registered Admin, they won't be able to change the password for you. Luckily, there is an alternative solution to recovering your password.
Use Recovery Mode
Apple provides a tool to replace a Mac's password through bypassing all of the previous steps. This is the best option if you don't have a password hint, can't log in via another account and have completely forgotten your password.
- Turn off your Mac.
- Press the power button whilst holding Command + R.
- The Mac will boot into Recovery Mode – when you see the load bar appear you can let go of the keys.
- Select ‘Disk Utility' and press Continue.
- Go to Utilities > Terminal.
- Enter ‘resetpassword' and press the Return key.
- Select the main hard drive.
- Select the User Account (the account you'd like to change).
- Enter a new password and create a password hint.
- Click Save – a warning will appear that the Keychain Password hasn't changed. Click OK.
- Shut Down your Mac and start it up again. Now you can log in using the new password.
Protect Your Data
Due to the fact Recovery Mode provides a nifty means to resetting the Mac password, you may be wary that anyone can hack your Mac – and once someone accesses your Mac, you've usually lost control over it. So, it's a good job there's some interventions you can make to prevent this happening. Macbook air mojave update.
The best way to protect your data is to active FileVault encryption. This means that the Password Reset option won't become available unless you unlock it with Disk Utility. To turn it on and set it up:
- Choose Apple > System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
- Click the FileVault tab.
- Click the Lock icon, and enter Login credentials.
- Click Turn on FileVault.
Once done, you will receive a Recovery Key and a password, which you should take note of. If you lose these, your data won't be able to be recovered and will be lost forever.
Another effective way to protect the data on your Mac is to download tried and tested app CleanMyMac X. With automatic clean-ups and regular system monitors, your data is continuously observed and safeguarded from any piracy or hacking.
Use Target Disk Mode
If all else fails, Target Disk Mode can help you recover whatever you can from the lost Mac. Using another Mac, you can access the hard drive on the lost Mac and save any wanted data.
- Shut down the Mac.
- Connect to another Mac using a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable.
- Start up your Mac and hold the T key while it loads.
- This activates Target Disk Mode.
The hard drive from the lost Mac should now appear, allowing you to recover and save wanted data onto the new Mac.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned!