How to Change MacBook Password (3 Ways)

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Change Your MacBook Password from System Settings

This is the standard method when you know your current password and just want to change it to something new. It works on every MacBook running macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia, or newer.

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select “System Settings.”
2. Click “Touch ID & Password” in the sidebar (or just “Users & Groups” on older macOS versions).
3. Click “Change” next to “Password.”
4. Enter your current (old) password.
5. Type your new password, then type it again to confirm.
6. Add a password hint if you want one (optional but helpful if you tend to forget passwords).
7. Click “Change Password.”

The change takes effect immediately. The next time your MacBook locks or you restart, you’ll use the new password. Your keychain password updates automatically to match.

Change Password on Older macOS Versions

If your MacBook runs macOS Monterey or earlier, the settings menu looks different but the process is similar.

1. Click the Apple menu and select “System Preferences” (not System Settings).
2. Click “Users & Groups.”
3. Select your user account in the left sidebar.
4. Click “Change Password.”
5. Enter your old password, new password, and confirmation. Add a hint if you want.
6. Click “Change Password.”

Reset a Forgotten MacBook Password

If you’ve forgotten your password entirely and can’t log in, you have a few options depending on your setup.

Using Your Apple ID

If your MacBook is linked to an Apple ID (which it almost certainly is), you can reset your login password from the lock screen.

1. At the login screen, enter the wrong password three times.
2. After the third attempt, a message appears: “If you forgot your password, you can reset it using your Apple ID.” Click the arrow next to it.
3. Enter your Apple ID email and password.
4. Follow the prompts to create a new Mac login password.
5. Your MacBook restarts. Log in with the new password.

This method only works if you previously enabled the option to reset your password using Apple ID. Most Macs have this enabled by default. If the Apple ID option doesn’t appear after three wrong attempts, try the Recovery Mode method below.

Using Recovery Mode

Recovery Mode lets you reset your password without knowing the old one. The steps differ slightly between Intel Macs and Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4).

We break down 4K monitors for Mac Mini in a separate post that complements this one.

For Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4):

1. Shut down your MacBook completely.
2. Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears.
3. Click “Options” and then “Continue” to enter Recovery Mode.
4. From the menu bar at the top, click “Utilities” then “Terminal.”
5. Type resetpassword and press Return.
6. The Reset Password assistant opens. Select your user account and set a new password.
7. Restart your MacBook and log in with the new password.

For Intel Macs:

1. Shut down your MacBook.
2. Press the power button, then immediately hold Command + R until the Apple logo appears.
3. When Recovery Mode loads, click “Utilities” in the menu bar, then “Terminal.”
4. Type resetpassword and press Return.
5. Select your account, set a new password, and restart.

Creating a Strong MacBook Password

Your Mac password protects everything – your files, your email, your saved passwords in Keychain, and your Apple ID access. A weak password makes all of that vulnerable. Here’s what makes a password strong enough for a laptop login.

Use at least 12 characters. Mix uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol or two. Avoid dictionary words, your name, birthdate, or common patterns like “123456” or “password.” A passphrase works well – something like “coffee+Rain42Tuesday” is long, memorable, and hard to guess. Your Mac password should be different from your Apple ID password and your email password.

Setting Up Touch ID

If your MacBook has a Touch ID sensor (the button in the top-right corner of the keyboard), setting it up means you rarely need to type your password. Touch ID handles login, Apple Pay, App Store purchases, and password autofill with a fingerprint tap.

1. Go to System Settings then “Touch ID & Password.”
2. Click “Add Fingerprint.”
3. Enter your Mac password to authorize.
4. Place your finger on the Touch ID sensor repeatedly, lifting and repositioning slightly each time. The setup screen shows progress as it maps your fingerprint.
5. When complete, toggle on the uses you want: unlocking Mac, Apple Pay, iTunes/App Store purchases, and password autofill.

You can add up to five fingerprints. Adding your index finger on each hand covers the most natural positions. Touch ID is faster and more convenient than typing a password, but you’ll still need the password after a restart, after 48 hours without use, or after five failed Touch ID attempts.

For a different take, see our guide on docking stations for MacBook Pro.

Changing Your Keychain Password

Your Mac’s Keychain stores saved passwords for websites, WiFi networks, apps, and encrypted disk images. Normally, the Keychain password stays in sync with your login password – when you change one, the other updates automatically. But sometimes they get out of sync, especially after a Recovery Mode password reset.

If your MacBook keeps asking for your “login keychain password” and your current password doesn’t work, you can reset it.

1. Open Keychain Access from Applications then Utilities.
2. From the menu bar, click “Keychain Access” then “Settings” (or “Preferences” on older macOS).
3. Click “Reset My Default Keychains.”
4. Enter your current Mac login password. This creates a new, empty keychain synced with your login password.

The downside is that resetting the keychain deletes all saved passwords stored locally. Passwords synced through iCloud Keychain will re-download, but locally-saved WiFi passwords and app logins need to be re-entered manually.

How often should you change your MacBook password?

There’s no fixed schedule. Security experts used to recommend changing passwords every 90 days, but current guidance from NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) says to change passwords only when you suspect they’ve been compromised. A strong, unique password that you don’t share or reuse is more secure than a frequently changed weak one. Change it if you’ve shared it with someone, used it on a public computer, or if a service you use reports a data breach.

What if I forgot both my MacBook password and Apple ID password?

You can reset your Apple ID password at iforgot.apple.com using your trusted phone number or a recovery contact. Once you regain access to your Apple ID, use it to reset your Mac login password from the lock screen (three wrong password attempts triggers the Apple ID reset option). If you can’t recover your Apple ID either, contact Apple Support directly – they can verify your identity and help recover your account, though the process takes several days.

Does changing my MacBook password change my Apple ID password?

No. Your MacBook login password and your Apple ID password are separate. Changing one doesn’t affect the other. Your MacBook password unlocks your computer and your local Keychain. Your Apple ID password controls access to iCloud, the App Store, and Apple services. Keep both strong and don’t make them the same.

Sources

Apple Support – Change Mac Login Password | Apple Support – Reset Mac Login Password | Apple Support – Use Touch ID on Mac