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I’m a new tech admin for school system. We have a few MacBook Pros. One of which we are trying to login to, we don’t know the password nor true user id. The previous techs and director did not write anything down. How can we reset it? Thank you
You may have a couple of options depending on the exact models of these Macs and whether this is just a login issue to the OS and not a firmware password lock or Activation Lock.
If these Macs are being managed by an MDM, then usually you can take a screenshot of the information within the MDM management console where you can then have Apple unlock the Macs if they have a firmware password lock or Activation Lock enabled. If the Macs are not being managed by an MDM, then you would need to provide valid proof of purchase which usually involves an invoice, or packing slip showing the organization's name & address as well as the serial number of the devices. Then you can have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider remove the firmware password lock or Activation Lock, but you will need to have a valid picture ID showing you work for the organization of record and you have authority to make this request on behalf of your organization.
If the issue is only a macOS login password, then you can just erase the whole physical drive (Intel Macs only), or delete the APFS volumes & Volume Group as mentioned in the following Apple article for erasing disks (you don't want to erase the whole SSD of an Apple Silicon Mac since some critical boot files are hidden on the internal SSD (instead of placed in firmware) which are necessary to access an Apple Silicon Macs One True Recovery (1TR):
Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support
For a 2018+ model, you can also perform a firmware "Restore" which will reset the security enclave & firmware and prepare the internal SSD for macOS (it will properly partition & format the internal SSD). With an Apple Silicon Mac, this process will also push a clean OS onto the internal SSD, but with an Intel Mac you will likely need to follow up by booting into Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) to access the online macOS installer (latest version compatible with that Mac). If Filevault is enabled on a 2018+ Mac, then a firmware "Restore" is likely the only option. For older Macs with Filevault enabled, then the previous suggestion to erase the whole physical drive on an Intel Mac should be sufficient.
Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac using Apple Configurator - Apple Support
Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon using Apple Configurator - Apple Support
Edit: I forgot to include a link to instructions for accessing Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R (Intel Macs only). This Apple article also has a link to the procedure to access an Apple Silicon Mac's 1TR mode where a Recovery Mode option can be found:
How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support
You may have a couple of options depending on the exact models of these Macs and whether this is just a login issue to the OS and not a firmware password lock or Activation Lock.
If these Macs are being managed by an MDM, then usually you can take a screenshot of the information within the MDM management console where you can then have Apple unlock the Macs if they have a firmware password lock or Activation Lock enabled. If the Macs are not being managed by an MDM, then you would need to provide valid proof of purchase which usually involves an invoice, or packing slip showing the organization's name & address as well as the serial number of the devices. Then you can have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider remove the firmware password lock or Activation Lock, but you will need to have a valid picture ID showing you work for the organization of record and you have authority to make this request on behalf of your organization.
If the issue is only a macOS login password, then you can just erase the whole physical drive (Intel Macs only), or delete the APFS volumes & Volume Group as mentioned in the following Apple article for erasing disks (you don't want to erase the whole SSD of an Apple Silicon Mac since some critical boot files are hidden on the internal SSD (instead of placed in firmware) which are necessary to access an Apple Silicon Macs One True Recovery (1TR):
Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support
For a 2018+ model, you can also perform a firmware "Restore" which will reset the security enclave & firmware and prepare the internal SSD for macOS (it will properly partition & format the internal SSD). With an Apple Silicon Mac, this process will also push a clean OS onto the internal SSD, but with an Intel Mac you will likely need to follow up by booting into Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) to access the online macOS installer (latest version compatible with that Mac). If Filevault is enabled on a 2018+ Mac, then a firmware "Restore" is likely the only option. For older Macs with Filevault enabled, then the previous suggestion to erase the whole physical drive on an Intel Mac should be sufficient.
Revive or restore an Intel-based Mac using Apple Configurator - Apple Support
Revive or restore a Mac with Apple silicon using Apple Configurator - Apple Support
Edit: I forgot to include a link to instructions for accessing Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R (Intel Macs only). This Apple article also has a link to the procedure to access an Apple Silicon Mac's 1TR mode where a Recovery Mode option can be found:
How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support
tundra12nfl Said:
"New tech admin: I’m a new tech admin for school system. We have a few MacBook Pros. One of which we are trying to login to, we don’t know the password nor true user id. The previous techs and director did not write anything down. How can we reset it? Thank you"
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Getting Into Another's Computer:
You Can't. What you are perform is not an option. These previous techs and the director should have logged out of iCloud on these prior to handing them sons to you. If they don't, then they are all useless to you. If they have Find My enabled, then they could erase these Macs in-full. So, contact these persons, and have them perofm as instructed here, including the iCloud log out: What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support. They should have known better.
New tech admin
