My son ( 11) cannot login to iMac, he forgot the password

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Level 1

8 points

My son ( 11) cannot login to iMac, he forgot the password

My Son (11 years old), He tried to log in in recovery mode, then click to reinstall the system from the web (Mac OS Catalina), after that, still could not log in so he tried again to log in recovery but now he can not come into recovery, also he tried to log in with after restarting with App ID, which He remembers but still He is logged out.

Myself I can see the only chance is to format HD and install Mac OS Catalina....

but, how we can do that we can not come in into Recovery again ??

After the iMac finish installing Catalina from the web, nothing work if He has not he password, He is locked in the login page.

Any help to try to format the HD and start new with Catalina? The iMac is late 2012, no chance to upgrade the System anymore.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 12.0

Posted on Nov 26, 2021 2:14 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

arore Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 26, 2021 4:24 AM in response to ku4hx

Thanks ku4hx,

The first link https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860 I tried before and it didn't work after my son Downloaded Catalina from the web when He was in the recovery page.

The second link https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 I am going to work with. I already got Install Disk Creator and just finish downloading Catalina.

I understand if I have Install Disk Creator, I don't have to work with command in Terminal, but I will read carefully as I go along working with this.

It is kind of late here home (Thailand) and I am not sure I will be able to finish tonight. So tomorrow I will post you my results

when I am sure I have solved this matter, otherwise it may be more questions from my side.

I am doing the work with the bootable disk from my own computer with with Monterrey.

You here tomorrow. Thanks

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Answer 2

ku4hx

Level 7

23,586 points

Nov 26, 2021 3:07 AM in response to arore

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860 if he has forgotten his local password.

You can install the OS from a bootable flash drive, but you have to have a working Mac to create it.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

I use Install Disk Creator app to create the drive; it's free and simple.

As to the logistics of getting a Mac to create a bootable flash drive, that is a problem only you can solve.

Too, I'm unsure of the exact status of the Mac at this point, there may be other avenues of help to pursue.

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Answer 3

arore Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 26, 2021 6:45 AM in response to arore

Hello ku4hx, PROBLEM SOLVED !!

I solved the problem this way: After I Downloaded Catalina, I used INSTALL DISK CREATOR to make a bootable disk in a spare HD I had empty, I tested in my iMac and it mounted without problems.

I went to my Son's iMac, inserted it in the Thunderbolt slot. restart his iMac. choose with OPTION key the CATALINA INSTALL HD as start disk, it took some time but to my surprise The computer start in RECOVERY mode. In this case, in the menu in Utilities I click in TERMINAL and in the window I typed reset password then return to open Password Assistant, there I had to write the new Password twice and then restart the computer. It start with the window to login to write the new password to the same user name as before. There was not the need to reinstall Catalina again, neither formatting the HD. He got back the iMac as before with a new password to login. I learnt a lot with this and my SON also was happy to miss nothing.

I appreciate your help. It solved my problem with a surprise. Have a nice day.

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Answer 4

ku4hx

Level 7

23,586 points

Nov 26, 2021 7:17 AM in response to arore

Pleasant surprises are always good to hear about. Yeah, your son (and I have one too) dodged a bullet, but it's all good and a little scare like this is sometimes a good teacher.

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My son ( 11) cannot login to iMac, he forgot the password

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