Forgot Apple ID and passcode

Hello! My friend has problem with her MacBook. She doesn’t remember tha password to unlock it and she doesn’t remember the password for her Apple ID. What can we do?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air (2018 – 2020)

Posted on Oct 19, 2023 02:11 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 19, 2023 04:02 AM

She must follow these steps to see if she can reset her login password


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212190


If she needs to enter her Apple ID information there and she cannot remember it, please try and reset the Apple ID password at iforgot.apple.com

If this is not working, and she cannot get access to her Apple ID I am afraid she will need to erase her Mac. I hope she has a recent backup of her files


If no other solution is successful, you have the option to reset your password by erasing your Mac.

  1. Shut down your Mac, then start up from macOS recovery as described previously.
  2. When you're asked to select an admin user you know the password for, choose Erase Mac from the Recovery Assistant menu in the menu bar.
  3. From the Erase Mac window, click Erase Mac, then click Erase Mac to confirm. 
  4. If your Mac restarts to a flashing question mark, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until your Mac turns off.
  5. Start up from macOS Recovery again, then reinstall macOS. For details, see How to reinstall macOS

If you can't reinstall macOS because the installer doesn't see a hard disk on which to install, you might need to change the format of the disk:

  1. Press Command (⌘)-Q to quit the installer.
  2. When you see the utilities window, select Disk Utility, then click Continue.
  3. Select the first item listed in the sidebar of the Disk Utility window. This is your built-in hard disk.
  4. Click the Erase button or tab on the right side of the window, then enter these details:
    • Name: Macintosh HD
    • Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    • Scheme (if shown): GUID Partition Map
  1. Click Erase, then click Erase to confirm.
  2. When the erase is complete, press Command-Q to quit Disk Utility and return to the utilities window. You should now be able to reinstall macOS successfully.




1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 19, 2023 04:02 AM in response to gergana229

She must follow these steps to see if she can reset her login password


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212190


If she needs to enter her Apple ID information there and she cannot remember it, please try and reset the Apple ID password at iforgot.apple.com

If this is not working, and she cannot get access to her Apple ID I am afraid she will need to erase her Mac. I hope she has a recent backup of her files


If no other solution is successful, you have the option to reset your password by erasing your Mac.

  1. Shut down your Mac, then start up from macOS recovery as described previously.
  2. When you're asked to select an admin user you know the password for, choose Erase Mac from the Recovery Assistant menu in the menu bar.
  3. From the Erase Mac window, click Erase Mac, then click Erase Mac to confirm. 
  4. If your Mac restarts to a flashing question mark, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until your Mac turns off.
  5. Start up from macOS Recovery again, then reinstall macOS. For details, see How to reinstall macOS

If you can't reinstall macOS because the installer doesn't see a hard disk on which to install, you might need to change the format of the disk:

  1. Press Command (⌘)-Q to quit the installer.
  2. When you see the utilities window, select Disk Utility, then click Continue.
  3. Select the first item listed in the sidebar of the Disk Utility window. This is your built-in hard disk.
  4. Click the Erase button or tab on the right side of the window, then enter these details:
    • Name: Macintosh HD
    • Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    • Scheme (if shown): GUID Partition Map
  1. Click Erase, then click Erase to confirm.
  2. When the erase is complete, press Command-Q to quit Disk Utility and return to the utilities window. You should now be able to reinstall macOS successfully.




This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Forgot Apple ID and passcode

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.