Don’t be stressed if you misplaced your Apple ID or forgotten password; some options remain to get back in. Unlocking a MacBook Pro without a password or Apple ID can be difficult. But still, you can quickly regain control by using the proper methods and understanding how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password.
This blog post will explain how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password when you forget or lose access to your Apple ID. We’ll also discuss several methods to get the MacBook Pro back, such as resetting the password, Using FileVault, using the factory reset option, and much more.
How to Unlock a MacBook Pro Without a Password?
1. Using your Apple ID to reset your password
- Enter the incorrect password on the login screen multiple times.
- Enter your Apple ID email and password when asked.
- There will be instructions on the screen on finishing the identity verification procedure.
- After verification, you can reset your MacBook’s password.
2. Using FileVault to reset the password
When FileVault is enabled, it generates a recovery key automatically and sends it to your Mac. This recovery key will assist you in unlocking and resetting the encrypted drive on a MacBook Pro.
- Make three wrong entries for your Mac password.
- Then, “Restart and Show password reset options” will display on the screen. Click this button.
- Wait until your Mac restarts before moving on.
- When asked to enter your FileVault Recovery Key or Apple ID, choose this recovery key option.
- Type in your recovery key here.
- After resetting your password, click Enter.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
- Click “Restart” to restart your MacBook after selecting a new password.
3. Using an Admin Account
If MacBook has more than one admin account, you can use one account to change the passwords for other user accounts. To find out how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password, follow these step-by-step guidelines:
- Use another admin account details to log in.
- Go to the System Settings menu.
- At the top of the screen, select Apple menu > System Settings.
- You’ll see the Users & Groups option on the left sidebar. Click it.
- To reset a user, click the i next to their username.
- Next to the password title, click change.
- Set your new password.
- Select “Log Out” from the Apple menu.
- Re-enter the new password and username to log in.
4. Erase your Mac
If you are trying to figure out how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password, you can do it by erasing your Mac password.
- Use the Command + R keyboard shortcut to get into Recovery Mode on Mac.
- From the macOS Utilities menu, Select Disk Utility.
- Select your starting disk and then click the Erase All Data button to delete everything on the disk.
- Install MacOS again and set up everything from the start.
- As everything will be deleted, ensure all your data is backed up.
5. By Mac Recovery Assistant:
You can use the Password Reset Assistant if you don’t have a FileVault Recovery Key. Enter macOS Recovery mode to reset the Mac password through the Terminal. The process differs slightly between Macs running on Intel CPUs and Apple silicon.
If the Mac runs on Apple silicon, restart it in Recovery mode by turning it off and holding the power button until you see starting options. Then click the Options button.
With an Intel-based Mac, press and hold the R and Command keys after restarting your Mac. When you see the Apple logo, release the keys. After that, follow these steps:
- Select Utilities > Terminal from the menu bar.
- Type reset password in the Terminal window.
- When the Password Reset Assistant starts, you will see a “Forgot Apple ID or Password” option. Click on it to begin the recovery process.
- Click Deactivate Mac in the Reset Passwords window, then click it again to ensure.
- Pick which account you want to generate a new password and reset the old one by following the on-screen instructions.
- Next, select Exit and Log Back into your Apple account.
How Does Factory Reset MacBook Pro Without a Password?
One way to restore a MacBook Pro without a password is to factory reset and restart the computer. MacO’s recovery mode deletes all data, and the device begins running immediately.
1. Switch to Recovery Mode
- Completely turn off your MacBook Pro.
- Press Command + R to turn it back on.
- When the Apple logo appears, the system enters Recovery Mode.
2. To Erase the Disk, Use Disk Utility
- Select Continue after choosing Disk Utility in the macOS Utilities screen.
- Select the starting disk, then select Erase.
- Confirm that all data and settings have been removed from the disk.
3. Reinstall the macOS
- Return to the macOS Utilities screen and select Reinstall macOS after cleaning the disk.
- To reinstall macOS on the recently deleted drive, follow the displayed guidelines.
4. Configure Mac to Start Over
MacBook Pro will restart and prompt you to set up the Mac like a new one. After receiving on-screen instructions, you can easily reset and unlock a MacBook Pro. You can now set up new user accounts without an old password.
What is the Recovery Key for Mac?
When you enable FileVault, Mac will generate a 28-character alphanumeric recovery key. This recovery key works as a backup to unlock your Mac if you forget your password or lose access to your Apple ID and lock your account.
How to generate an Apple recovery key on an Apple Mac
- Click the Apple menu and select System Settings.
- Click on the Password & Security option.
- In the Password & Security section, choose Recovery Key.
- Follow the on-screen instructions
- After that, your recovery key will be created.
- Please write down this recovery key and save it somewhere safe. You’ll need it if you ever lose access to this account.
- To ensure you have saved the key, enter it again.
Unlock a MacBook Pro without a password by using the Terminal
If the MacBook Pro is in macOS Recovery mode, you can unlock it without a password using the Terminal. Here are some step-by-step guidelines that can help how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password with the Terminal:
- Hold the Power button until the Mac shuts down and enters Recovery mode.
- Press Command + R when it restarts.
- Click on Terminal after choosing Utilities from the macOS Utilities box.
- To change the password, enter it in Terminal and press Enter. The Password Reset tool will open as a result.
- Select the user account that requires a reset to generate a new password.
- Follow the steps displayed on the screen.
- With the new login information, restart it. The password has been updated.
How to change the Apple ID MacBook?
You can change your Apple ID on your MacBook by following the steps:
Logging out of current Apple ID
- Click on the Apple menu from the top left corner.
- Then, click on System Settings.
- Click your name at the top in the sidebar.
- Scroll down and click on Sign Out.
- You might need to download a copy of your data from iCloud to Mac.
Use a New Apple ID to Log in:
- Go back to System Settings after logging out.
- Click on Sign In at the top of the sidebar.
- Provide your new Apple ID and password, and follow the on-screen instructions to log in.
In conclusion, we learned how to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password or an Apple ID by using another admin account, deleting it in Recovery Mode, or using an Apple ID to reset the password and with FileVault Recovery Key. You can also do a factory reset, but you’ll need to set a backup plan first because everything will be erased during this process.
While various methods are available to unlock a MacBook Pro without a password, taking precautions will save you from getting locked out. For this purpose, encrypt with FileVault, regularly have data backups, keep your recovery key safe, link Apple ID to your account, and then keep access to it as well.
FAQs
How do I turn off my iCloud without a password?
You can unlock your iCloud account using the “Forgot Password” option if you forget your password. Recovering your iPhone and its iTunes backup can also change your password. To log out of iCloud, use a factory reset, but remember that all of your data will be ruined, so make a backup before starting.
What is the recovery key for Mac?
If you forget your Apple ID password, a 28-character recovery key from your Mac will get you back into your Mac. Recovery keys are generated at the very moment when you turn on FileVault software that encrypts your disk to secure data. Therefore, you have to be very careful not to lose it.
How to unlock a MacBook Pro laptop?
After several failed attempts to unlock a MacBook Pro, reset the password with your Apple ID. If FileVault is enabled, you can also use the recovery key. Otherwise, restart your Mac in Recovery Mode and erase everything.
How to get into a Macbook without a password?
You might use Recovery Mode to reset your device and delete everything on the MacBook.If everything else fails, you can attempt to reset the MacBook using your Apple ID, so it’s accessible without a password. Beyond that, you can use a FileVault Recovery Key if enabled or log in with a different admin account.
How do you factory reset a Mac without a password?
After restarting your Mac, enter Recovery Mode by pressing and holding Command + R.
To erase data, choose your primary drive in Disk Utility and select Erase. To reinstall a fresh system after deleting, close Disk Utility, choose Reinstall macOS, and follow the on-screen instructions.