This tutorial will teach you how to reset your admin password in Mac OS X 10.6 without the installation discs. This method will be done through a system reboot in Single User Mode.
Reset Admin Password on Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6
The below instructions also applies to
Mac OS X 10.5 (
Leopard) and
Mac OS X 10.6 (
Snow Leopard).
- Boot your Mac while holding the Command + S keys down to access the Single User Mode. Then run the following commands:
- Type mount -uw / and press Enter.
- Type launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist and press Enter.
- Type ls /Users and press Enter (this command list the all users accounts registered on the computer).
- Type dscl . -passwd /Users/username password and press Enter. Replace username by the name of the desired user account. Replace password with your new password.
- Type reboot and press Enter.
Reset Admin Password on Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
The procedure is slightly different for
Mac OS X 10.4 (
Tiger). Restart the Mac in Single User Mode and run the following commands:
- Type sh /etc/rc / and press Enter.
- Type passwd username and press Enter. Replace username by the name of the desired user account.
- Enter the new password (it does not appear on screen).
- Type reboot and press Enter.
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