Unable to restart MacBook as administrator due to 'Please write a valid name' error

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Level 1

4 points

Unable to restart MacBook as administrator due to 'Please write a valid name' error

Hello,

I have a MacBook with few registered users there. I have admin rights. I can use my name and password to log in and unlock some preferences but unable to restart the computer. It asks the administrator's name and password and when I use the same ones as while logging in it writes 'Please write a valid name'. I checked again my name, tried to change password but all this failed.

How can I fix this?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Cant unlock Mac

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Sep 19, 2025 04:06 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 19, 2025 08:36 AM in response to irishmin33

Not sure why it's not accepting your credentials, but you can bypass the need to log out other users with a hard shutdown – press and hold the power button / Touch ID sensor for ~10 seconds, release it, wait a few seconds then press any key to boot back up.

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

67,028 points

Sep 19, 2025 09:16 AM in response to irishmin33

The only reason I can think it asking for admin authentication is if you have other macOS users still logged into their user accounts. How about having them log out of their accounts when they are finished?

Are you sure you are an admin user? Check the Users & Groups System Settings to be sure.

Also, is it possible one of the other admin users may have enabled some macOS restrictions to your user account?

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