Unknown Administrator Password

Hi sgbiii,

Did you enable Root User, or have a corrupted administrator?

Also, do you forgot an administrator password? Reset the password.

1. Boot your mac to Recovery Mode by pressing Command+R during startup.
2. Go to Utilities in the menu bar and click on Terminal
3. in the terminal type:

resetpassword

Press enter.

Click on “Forgot all Passwords”

Enter your password

Restart your Mac

Or do this when FileVault is enabled.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202860



Try Reinstalling macOS

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/erase-and-reinstall-macos-mh27903/mac

make sure you backup your mac first.

Or do this

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204012

sgbiii Said:

"Unknown Administrator Password: The last administrator didn't pass on the administrator password used in setting up the iMac and MacBook Pro not the user accounts the Administrator password. Can see the user ID but the password is unknown, Help!"

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Deleting the Account:

Why would you want to use someone else's account? Seems like a hack, on your part. If a used device, then I'd say be honest about it and just delete the account. What I would recommend is backup up your Mac today. Once backed up, proceed with deleting that user.

Backing Up the Mac First:

What I would consider doing is creating a backup of your Mac prior to deleting this current user? That way, you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go working afterwards. It is always important to backup your Mac prior to making any major change to it, such as an update installing or a user deletion.

Hi sgbiii,

Did you purchase or receive this Mac from a previous owner?

If yes, you should erase the Mac and reinstall macOS: How to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

sgbiii wrote:

The last administrator didn't pass on the administrator password used in setting up the iMac and MacBook Pro not the user accounts the Administrator password. Can see the user ID but the password is unknown, Help!

This is to prevent unauthorized access.

Thanks for the clarification.

Do any other administrators exist on the Macs? Or is this account the only admin account on both machines?

To check, log into a user account, and open System Preferences -> Users and Groups.

I can’t sign in, I forgot part of my logon administrative password.