Deleting Mac Pro startup security (Firmware) password in "Normal Mode"

I am sorry, but I could not find an answer to this though I searched for a number of hours over two days and even used Google’s and Grok’s AI, to no avail.


This is not a question, but a reply to a closed topic to which I sure others will still want an answer. I KNOW my firmware password, and I wanted to delete it, but the system won't let me use even a wired mouse and keyboard to type it in. By the way, using Option to switch to a different boot drive DOES allow me to type in the firmware password, go figure. Here is what to do if you have the same issue:


In normal mode, open terminal and type:

sudo firmwarepasswd -delete


Then enter your firmware password and it reports that the password has been deleted.


I was then able to get into Recovery Mode without the password, but curiously when I ran

Sudo firmwarepasswd -check,

I got a message that it was an unknown command.


I restarted in normal mode, ran Sudo firmwarepasswd -check, and it reported:

Password Enabled: No


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: What to do if your Mac won't let you enter your startup security (firmware) password to enter Recovery Mode

Mac Pro, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 10:29 AM

Reply
4 replies

Jul 22, 2025 08:50 AM in response to Segulah

Segulah wrote:

I was then able to get into Recovery Mode without the password, but curiously when I ran
Sudo firmwarepasswd -check,
I got a message that it was an unknown command.

When booted into Recovery Mode or from a bootable macOS USB installer, when you launch the Terminal app you are already at a root prompt shown by the symbol " # " so the "sudo" command to elevate privileges is not needed (and not available).


The macOS installer environment only contains a very small subset of commands & utilities.


Good job discovering another method to remove the firmware password lock when the password is known. Thanks for sharing this knowledge with us.

Deleting Mac Pro startup security (Firmware) password in "Normal Mode"

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