Have you ever found yourself locked out of your MacBook Pro because you forgot your password? It can be a frustrating experience, especially if you have important files or work that you need to access. However, there are several methods you can try to unlock your MacBook Pro without the password. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password, using both official and unofficial methods.
One of the official methods to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password is to use your Apple ID. If you have an Apple ID associated with your MacBook Pro, you can use it to reset your password. To do this, you will need to visit the Apple ID website and follow the instructions to reset your password. Once you have reset your password, you can use it to unlock your MacBook Pro.
If you do not have an Apple ID associated with your MacBook Pro, or if you have forgotten your Apple ID password, you can try using the recovery mode method. To do this, you will need to restart your MacBook Pro and hold down the Command + R keys during startup. This will boot your MacBook Pro into recovery mode. Once you are in recovery mode, you can use the Terminal to reset your password. To do this, type the following command into the Terminal: resetpassword. This will launch the Reset Password utility, which you can use to reset your password and unlock your MacBook Pro.
Reset Your Password Using Apple ID
If you have an Apple ID, you can utilize it to reset your MacBook Pro’s password without the need for a recovery key. This can be achieved even if you have forgotten your password. To do so, follow these steps:
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Boot into Recovery Mode
Restart your MacBook Pro and hold down Command (⌘) + R to enter Recovery Mode. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
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Open Utilities
When you’re in Recovery Mode, go to the menu in the top bar, choose “Utilities,” and select “Terminal” from the dropdown menu.
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Reset Password
In the Terminal window, type “resetpassword” and press Enter. You’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. Enter your credentials and click “Next.”
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Choose New Password
You’ll be prompted to choose a new password for your MacBook Pro. Enter your preferred password twice to confirm it, and then click the “Reset Password” button.
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Restart MacBook Pro
Once you have reset your password, close the Terminal window, and select the “Restart” option from the Recovery Mode menu.
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Login with New Password
Your MacBook Pro will now restart with the new password you have set. You can log in using your new credentials to access your Mac.
Reset Your Password Using Recovery Key
If you have forgotten your MacBook Pro password and don’t have access to your Apple ID, you can still reset your password using a recovery key. To do this, you will need a USB flash drive or an external hard drive that is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
Once you have a USB flash drive or external hard drive, follow these steps to reset your password using a recovery key:
- Insert the USB flash drive or external hard drive into your MacBook Pro.
- Turn on your MacBook Pro and hold down the Command (⌘) + R keys until you see the Apple logo.
- Release the Command (⌘) + R keys when you see the Utilities window.
- Click on the “Utilities” menu and select “Reset Password.”
- Select the USB flash drive or external hard drive that contains your recovery key.
- Enter the recovery key and click on the “Next” button.
- Enter a new password for your MacBook Pro and click on the “Reset Password” button.
- Your password will now be reset.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Does not require an internet connection. | Requires a USB flash drive or external hard drive that is formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). |
| Can be used to reset your password even if you have forgotten your Apple ID. | If you lose your recovery key, you will not be able to reset your password. |
Remove Password Protection from FileVault
Recovery Key
If you have your FileVault recovery key, follow these steps:
- Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R.
- Choose “Recovery Mode” and click “Continue.”
- Click “Utilities” and select “Terminal.”
- Enter the command: “diskutil apfs deleteRecoveryKey /dev/disk0s2 (or your FileVault-encrypted volume)”
- Press Enter.
- Enter your FileVault recovery key.
- Restart your Mac.
Terminal Command
If you don’t have your FileVault recovery key, you can use Terminal to reset your password:
- Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R.
- Choose “Recovery Mode” and click “Continue.”
- Click “Utilities” and select “Terminal.”
- Enter the following command:
“resetpassword -verbose -target /Volumes/Macintosh HD” - Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.
- Restart your Mac.
Target Disk Mode
If you have access to another Mac, you can use Target Disk Mode:
- Connect your Mac to the other Mac using a Thunderbolt or FireWire cable.
- Restart your Mac and hold down the T key.
- On the other Mac, open Finder and select your Mac.
- Click the “Recovery” partition.
- Follow the instructions in the Terminal to reset your password.
- Restart your Mac.
macOS Installer
If you have a macOS installer, you can use it to create a new administrator account:
- Insert the macOS installer.
- Restart your Mac and hold down the Option key.
- Select the macOS installer from the list.
- Click “Utilities” and select “Terminal.”
- Enter the following command:
“createuser -admin -peaches -realname “Peaches Johnson”” - Restart your Mac and log into the new administrator account.
- Navigate to System Preferences > Users & Groups, and remove the original password-protected account.
How To Unlock Macbook Pro Without Password
If you have forgotten the password to your MacBook Pro, there are a few ways to unlock it. One way is to use the Apple ID that is associated with your MacBook Pro. To do this, you will need to enter your Apple ID and password into the login screen. If you have forgotten your Apple ID or password, you can reset them by visiting the Apple website.
Another way to unlock your MacBook Pro is to use the Recovery Key. The Recovery Key is a unique code that is generated when you first set up your MacBook Pro. To use the Recovery Key, you will need to enter it into the login screen. If you have forgotten your Recovery Key, you can reset it by visiting the Apple website.
If you have tried both of these methods and you are still unable to unlock your MacBook Pro, you may need to take it to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider. They will be able to help you unlock your MacBook Pro and reset your password.
