How to remove or change your MacBook password

Locking your MacBook® with a fingerprint or a password is the best way to protect the personal information on your Apple® device. But sometimes you'll want to change—or even remove—that password. Don't worry, doing so is simple—we'll walk you through it.

At Asurion, when you have an issue with your tech, we're here to help—whether your computer's charger is broken or your hard drive needs an upgrade. Here's a guide on how to remove or change your MacBook password.

Why you may want to change or remove your MacBook password

Changing your password every so often is a great way to keep your computer—and your personal data—safe. For more information, check out our guides on how to create a secure password, or what's the best password manager (a tool we recommend).

There are, however, some scenarios in which you may want to remove your password altogether. For example, if you're about to repair, sell, or hand down your device.

Ready to change or remove the password on your MacBook? We'll walk you through the steps.

How to change your MacBook password

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Click System Preferences.
3. Click Users & Groups.
4. Click Change Password.
5. Enter your old and new passwords, then click Change Password.

How to remove your MacBook password

1. Click on the Apple Menu.
2. Click System Preferences.
3. Click Users & Groups.
4. Click the lock, then enter your password.
5. Click Login Options in the lower-left corner.
6. Choose the desired account from the Automatic login dropdown menu, then enter your password.

How to unlock Macbook Pro or Macbook Air without a password

If you're attempting to access an account on a MacBook and you no longer have the password, there are a few things you can do.

How to use an admin account to reset your MacBook password

The admin account on your MacBook has control over settings for all users on the computer, including the ability to reset passwords. Here is how to change MacBook passwords from the admin account:

1. Sign in to the admin account and open System Preferences.
2. Click Users & Groups.
3. Locate the Other Users menu and click the user whose password needs to be changed.
4. Click Change Password, enter a new one and confirm it.

How to use your Apple ID to reset your MacBook password

If your Mac user account is linked to your Apple ID, you should be able to reset your password easily.

Once you guess the wrong password three times, you can choose to restart your MacBook to see your password recovery options. After it restarts, enter your Apple ID and password, then pick the account you want to change the password for and enter your new password.

How to access the Terminal in Recovery Mode to reset your MacBook password

Your last option for recovering a forgotten MacBook password is to restart your device in Recovery Mode and access the Terminal. Here's how:

1. If you have not already done so, turn off your MacBook.
2. Press the Power button, but quickly press and hold command and R until you see a progress bar appear.
3. For newer models that use Apple's M1 processor, hold down the Power button until you're given a list of options, then select Recovery.
4. Once in Recovery Mode, find Utilities, then Terminal.
5. Type resetpassword into that bar and press return. Your computer will allow you to change the password.