Change or reset a user account password on your Mac - Apple Support

If you’ve forgotten your Mac login password, this guide outlines a clear hierarchy of recovery steps, ranging from simple restarts to more advanced recovery modes.

1. Basic First Steps

Restart your Mac: Sometimes a fresh boot triggers the recovery prompts.
Check the Basics: Ensure Caps Lock is off and the correct Keyboard Language is selected in the top-right corner of the login screen.
Look for Hints: If you set a password hint, click the question mark (?) in the password field to reveal it.

2. Reset via Login Window

Use Apple Account: Sign in with your Apple ID email/phone and password.
Use Recovery Key: Enter your 24-character FileVault recovery key.
Note: For macOS Tahoe 26 or later, you might find this key in the Passwords app on your other Apple devices by searching for "recovery key."

3. Use macOS Recovery

If the login window options don't work, you must enter Recovery Mode:

Start up in Recovery: (The method varies by Intel or Apple Silicon Macs).
Reset Password Tool: Select "Forgot all passwords?" or go to Utilities > Terminal, type resetpassword, and press Return.
Follow Onscreen Prompts: This will allow you to set a new password for your user account.

4. Last Resort: Erase Mac

If all other methods fail, you can regain access by erasing the computer.

Warning: This permanently deletes all data and user accounts.
In Recovery mode, select Erase Mac from the Recovery Assistant menu at the top of the screen.