Master Password Hint?

I see when changing the master password, there is an option to enter a hint. I have forgotten my master password and was wondering where I could find the hint I entered when I initially set it.
Thank you very much for your assistance.

thbarnes,
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Mac Help says...Adding a password hint: If you have trouble remembering your password, you can have a hint appear after the third time you try unsuccessfully to log in. You'll also see the hint if you fail three times to enter a correct password when you install software or perform other tasks that require your password.;~)

Similar Messages

I haven't used my desktop iMac in a long time and can't get pass the opening login...I thought I remembered my password, but, apparently not. How do I change it. I don't THINK I have a "master password" on the thing. I've never used one on any of

I haven't used my IMac in a long time and went to boot it up, and I find I don't remember the correct username and password (I use several computers..I try to keep the passwords similar, with a number for the chronological order in which I started using them) I've tried all the others I use for passwords. The 'hint" keeps coming up for the password I am pretty sure is the correct one, but, still cannot get in. I also don't remember whether I changed my surname on the computer...it was changed legally a little while ago, but some of my older devices still have my birth-name in there)
HELP
I don't think I ever set up a "master password" on the thing...I never use those. I am the only person with access to my personal devices.
thanks

Forgot Your Account Password
For Lion, Mountain Lion, or Mavericks
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
     When the menubar appears select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
     Enter resetpassword at the prompt and press RETURN. Follow
     instructions in the dialog window that will appear.
     Or see:
       Reset a Mac OS X 10.7 Lion Password
       OS X Mountain Lion- Reset a login password,
       OS X Mavericks- Solve password problems,
       OS X Lion- Apple ID can be used to reset your user account password.
For Snow Leopard and earlier with installer DVD
     Mac OS X 10.6- If you forget your administrator password,
     OS X- Changing or resetting an account password (Snow Leopard and earlier).
For Snow Leopard and earlier without installer DVD
    How to reset your Mac OS X password without an installer disc | MacYourself
    Reset OS X Password Without an OS X CD — Tech News and Analysis
    How To Create A New Administrator Account - Hack Mac

How do I actually use a master password?

My home folder is protected with file vault and so I have a master password set. If ever I should forget my user password how would I use the master password to get in to my Mac?
thx

If you would ever forget your password, then you
would need to use the Mac OS X Install Discs to reset your password.
The above suggestion is not correct for an account that's protected with FileVault. Even if it does allow you to reset the password on the account it does not reset the password on the encrypted home folder.
Instead read this Apple Support article.
Basically you "attempt" to logon to the account using incorrect passwords. After three incorrect attempts you'll be prompted for the Master Password (or if the account has a password hint set you'll see the password hint - enter another incorrect password to get the Master Password prompt).
At this point you can enter the Master Password and you'll be allowed to set a new password for the account. This will also set the new password on the encrypted home folder, mount it and log you in to the account.
You can also mount a FileVault encrypted home folder from the command line with the Master Password using hdiutil. One reason you might want to do this is if you had multiple accounts on a machine and you were logged in to one account but needed to recover or access files in an encrypted home folder of another account.
Steve

Startup disk/master password dilemma....

Hi there,
I hope someone can help me here,I`ve already looked in the relevant forums for an answer but nothing really helps. I was trying to find out why my father`s pc printer (lexmark) wouldn`t work on my G4.And I was instructed that maybe I didn`t install panther 10.3 correctly.So I tried re-installing it when it asked about the startup disk I selected macintosh HD.Next thing it`s asking me for the master password and apparently I`ve forgotten it,even after the hint becomes visible,I still have no luck,is there any way I can delete it.I`ve already changed the user passsword,but it`s the master that I can`t get passed.
Thanks Jon
g4 powerbook Mac OS X (10.3)

The proper way to reset the pmu is outlined here.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=95037
If you did not enable FileVault then it should not be there. It is not the default installation. You, or someone else, has to go the preferences, open Security, put in a password and enable file vault.
It encrypts everything on your hard drive using your password as a "key" for the encryption. Without the key, all the info is hopelessly scrambled.
Once, years ago, I had a similar problem in that I could not get the password reset and the computer would not accept what had been my password for a year. Obviously a file was corrupted that kept my password. I could not use the password reset by the install disk either. Fortunately I had cloned my hard drive and could boot off of the clone and copy files that were not up to date since the last clone.
At this point I'd say you are going to have to do the same. Use or purchase another hard drive, install X to it, copy your user files and re install your applications.
As an alternative, you could try posting to the Unix forum on Apple Discussions and see if anyone there can help you use command line to get a new password.

Master password problems...

my hard drive crashed about a year ago and when it did i had to purchase another one (obviously) and replace it...well i set a master password, and my computer has never once asked me to put it in...so, i've done an idiotic thing....and i've forgotten it.
now i've moved in with some people i don't know so well and i'd like to set my computer to ask for a password at start up and after coming back from screensaver or from being asleep....
when i went to set this up, it would not accept what i thought was my old password (even with my hint i can't get it).
so i'm wondering if there is ANY WAY i can reset it?
i really hope i don't need the disks....cause i'm in italy until june, and they are at home in the states.
thanks

Changing password from single user mode:
You can also change the administrator's password from single user mode or create a new administrator account.
You need to get into single use mode for steps one and two that are listed below.
This page will tell you how to get into single user mode.
http://www.securemac.com/macosxsingleuser.php
Basically, you hold down the command-s key then powering on your machine. The command key has a little apple symbol on the lower left. It is between the alt/option key and the space bar. On a PC keyboard, it will be the windows key, I think.
1) You can change the password on an account. ( Do you know Unix. You are in a Unix single user console. ) The setup commands you need should be listed on the screen. For Mac OS 10.4.11, the commands are:
# Type the follow two instructions to accessing the startup disk in read/write:
/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /
# Start up some utility processes that are needed.
sh /etc/rc
# You will probably need to press the enter key once the system stops typing.
# To find out the users on the system type, use the list command:
ls /Users
# One of these accounts will be the administrator.
# Pick one of the users which I'll call a-user-name and type it in this command:
passwd a-user-name
# and enter the new user password. You need six characters.
# You will need to enter your password twice. Your typing will not show up on the screen just
# press enter when you complete the typing.
# For cryptic information on these commands try:
man ls
man passwd
The root account isn't enabled by default. I am not sure if changing the password on root will enable it.
2) Get the Mac to set up an additional administrative account. You can then change the password on your old account.
This was Posted by: JoseAranda at September 9, 2006 3:48 AM
OK, restart your computer, hold down Command-s and type in the following:
Robert's edit: The first two commands will depend on your release of Mac OS X. Looked at what is typed out in the console to determine the exact format.
/sbin/fsck -y [Enter]
/sbin/mount -uaw [Enter]
rm /var/db/.applesetupdone [Enter]
# Robert's edit: The rm command is the remove command which deletes the file.
# Robert's edit: I'd rename the file via: mv /var/db/.applesetupdone /var/db/.applesetupdone.old
reboot [Enter]
Once you've done that the computer reboots and it's like the first time you used the machine. Your old accounts are all safe. From there you just change all other account passwords in the account preferences!!
end of posted by: JoseAranda
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/howdo_i_reset_my_mac_os_x_admin_rootpassword.html
You will need to scroll down to see this post. Search for applesetupdone
Or see:
http://superpixel.ch/articles/running-setup-assistant-again/
Once you have a new administrative account, you can change the password of your old administrative account
blue apple > System Preferences > Accounts
You can see that it is easy to change your administrator password. You can set a firmware password that you enter before your machine will boot.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1352
Message was edited by: rccharles

Master Password Reset

Is it possible to reset your master password?

From Help menu:
Changing a master password
Once you've set a master password for your computer, you can change it.
IMPORTANT: A master password is not the same as your user account (login) password.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences and click Security.
If the Security preferences pane is locked, click the lock icon and type an administrator name and password.
Click Change.
Type the current master password.
Type the new master password, then type it again in the Verify box.
Type a hint to help you remember your password.
Click OK.
Does this answer your question?

Master Password- can it be reset?

I've got my g4 up for sale and I don't want to sell it unless everything is accessable to the new owner.
I don't recall the M.S. on my computer and to be honest, I don't recall ever setting the M.S, however it IS set along w/ a hint, $$$!,(I'm not even a $$$! type of girl!) and I'm clueless. If anybody knows anything on this, the things not locked, I just need it to be sellable, maybe if I bring it 2 the Apple store? eBay count down of 2 days to figure this out. Yikes! Thanks in advance for any advice on this query!
pb g4 15" alum Mac OS X (10.4.8)

If you're going to sell the computer, it's best to completely reinstall Mac OS using the installation media that came with the Mac. This will remove any lingering information about yourself from the computer. It would be a good idea to erase the hard drive using Disk Utility (from the install media) first. Both of these tasks can be done without knowing the master password.
You should also give those original install discs to the buyer once its sold.
Here's an example of why it's a good idea to erase and reinstall: I bought a PC laptop from someone in the mid 90s. It was not reinstalled first. It had lots of her documents and personal e-mails on it. The web browser history had a good deal of information about her browsing habits, and the browser cache contained some bank account information.
Deleting files and telling the browser to clean itself does not destroy this type of information. Erasing the hard drive and reinstalling OS X will do it. The "Zero Out Data" option in Disk Utility (select the drive, click Erase, then click Security Options) should be good enough, but if you have some time to spare, the "7-Pass Erase" option will make it nearly impossible for anyone to see your data. How long this takes depends on the speed and size of your hard drive, but if you started it before going to bed, it should be done in the morning. Remember that you'll need to boot from the install disc to do this.

FORGOT MASTER PASSWORD... HELP!!

I forgot my master password and want to reset it, how can i do that?
I dont have firevault on and I know my account pass

Hi! Boot from the install disc and reset it there. Tom
1. Put your Mac OS X Install CD or DVD in your optical drive and restart with the C key held down (to boot from the optical disc).
2. Click through the language selection screen. Then choose Utilities > Reset Password.
3. Select your usual startup disk. Then, from the pop-up menu below the volume list, choose the user whose password you want to reset. (Do not choose "System Administrator (root)," which represents an entirely different account!)
4. Enter (and repeat) a new password, and optionally enter a hint. Click Save, and then click OK.
5. Choose Reset Password > Quit, and then Installer > Quit Installer. Click the Reset button to restart from the hard disk.
Once you've done this, you'll still be prompted to enter a password for your login keychain. If that password was the same as your login password - meaning it too is forgotten - you'll have to delete that keychain, make a new one, and set that keychain as the default.

Help with Master Password Rest

I activated FileVault on my MBP and it it rebooted and I am now stuck at the main login screen for the computer... It won't recognize my password, which I verified through my "hint" question... Any suggestions?

Having activated Filevault you should have 2 passwords: the master password for filevault, and your login password which I presume you would have used prior to activating filevault.
If you can remember either of these you should be able to escape!
The procedure if your login password fails is to try 3 times then click on 'forgot password' which will bring up a space for typing the master password and allow you to change the login password.
If you didn't set a master password I assume (without knowing) that you won't need to enter the master pw to reset your login.
It's possible that not setting a master password will mean the total loss of all that is in your home folder if your login is not accepted. This is certainly the case if both login & master passwords are unknown.
Neville

Where do I enter Master Password?

I have FileVault turned on, and the Master Password set. Hopefully I will never need to use the Master Password, but I don't see where you type that in when you do forget the account password.
I here that there should be a button in the startup login window, but only seems to be the case if you have the login window to appear as a list of users. I have it set to Name and Password, where you type in the username and password.
In this case, there is no such button...so how do I enter it in a situation that I lost my account password?

..."it states that if I enter a wrong password 3 times, a hint (which I do not have set) and a "Reset Password" button should appear. However, even if I enter the password 3 times, I do not get this."...
Hmm, it isn't working for me either (10.5.6), but I know it did work in the past. But to be honest, this is probably the first time I tried under 10.5 so I can't say when it stopped working for me, and whether it's a problem with my system, a recent bug or an intentional change in behaviour that hasn't been properly documented...
..."Where do I enter Master Password?"...
In the meantime, passwords can be changed from the "System Preferences" > "Accounts" > "Reset Password", where a field for "Master Password" appears when the account in question has "FileVault" enabled. This will of course require you to have the ability to log in to another account on the system, but that can easily be accomplished by eg. having a backup "admin" account, or enabling "root" from the installer disk, etc. should the need ever arise...

How do I get my Master Password?

Since I downloaded Yosemite I have had all sorts of problems. I need to find out what my Master Password is. The password that goes with my hint doesn't help. Is there a book I can get to help me figure some of these new things out?

Hi Karen+R;
Happy Holidays! The resource below will explain how to reset the User Admin account for your Macbook with Yosemite.
OS X Yosemite: Reset a login password
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18653
Sometimes a user’s login password needs to be reset—for example, when the user has forgotten the login password and can’t use a password hint to remember it.
Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
Log in to your account. In the login window, click the question mark in the password field, then click the arrow in the dialog that appears.
Enter an Apple ID and password, then click Reset Password.
Here is some information to help you get used to the new OS X Yosemite:
Apple - OS X Yosemite - Overview
https://www.apple.com/osx/
OS X Yosemite: Apps included with your Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18738
Cheers!
- Judy

Reset Forgotten File Vault Master Password

Is there any way to reset the file vault master password?
I must have set it about 5 years ago, and the migration tool has moved it to my new machine. I have completely forgotten, and the hint I left myself has me even more baffled.
I remember all the user/admin accounts, just not the file vault one.
Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks

The FileVault Master Password is stored in the
FileVault Master keychain. This keychain is located
in /Library/Keychains next to the FileVault
Master X.509 certificate and System Keychain.
You don't have to delete these files to reset the
FileVault Master Password, just move the FileVault
Master Keychain and companion FileVault Master
certificate to another folder. When you open System
Preferences, it will behave as though you never set a
FileVault Master Password, and will allow you to set
a new one.
My daughter set me up as a user on her computer that I bought for her when she was 18 with limited access to use only the internet. She has got married and moved to New York in March 2007. She says she can't remember her master password and I am unable to use the MAC to its full without her administrator master password. I have no access to system prefernces when I click on File either.

Master Password Troubleshoot

Recently I haven't been able to make any changes to my mac becuase when it asks for my master password, I enter it and it says its wrong. My password matches my hint question so I'm lost. Has my password been changed,or has anyone ran into this problem?

Reset the password. Info here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106156

2007 iMac, how to reset master password when current one unknown?

Hello. Yes, so I set a master password but I am not remembering it. Even with the hint. So how do I change this? Thank you.

Start with a google search for reset master passward mac site:apple.com.

HELP!!! I lost master password!

HELP, I forgot my master password and even if there's a hint (and I know the answer) I've been trying all the possible combinations of upper/lower case that I can think of but it didn't work. Is there a way to recover/change it? Thanks a lot!!

A friend of mine said that while it is a pain in the toches, it could be resolved by disabling FileVault on every account, and then deleting a "FileVaultMaster.keychain" file, resetting the master password, and then enabling FileVault on each account again.
That seems basically correct.
I found several reports that there are actually two files, "FileVaultMaster.keychain" and "FileVaultMaster.cer", both in HD>Library>Keychains (not username>Library>Keychains) associated with the master passsword. After first turning off FileVault everywhere, removing these two files should enable you to re-enter a new master password. See
section 4 of http://www.macworld.com/article/58777/2007/07/aug07workingmac.html
and
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5822772&#5822772
My concern is that resetting the Master Password would effect other apportionments of MacOS, is this the case or not?
I highly doubt it, but I can't give you a better answer than "probably not"!
I'd keep a backup of the two removed files, rather than deleting them altogether.

Master Password Hint?

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