How to Find Your Administrator Name and Password for a Mac

Managing your Mac's administrator account and getting access to the administrator password can sometimes be a necessary task, especially when troubleshooting or making changes to system settings. This guide will walk you through the steps to find your administrator name and reset your administrator password on a Mac.

Finding Your Administrator Name

System Preferences Method:

Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. Select System Preferences. Click on Users Groups. The administrator account would typically be listed on the left sidebar. The administrator account will have a profile icon next to it, or it may be the user with 'Admin' in the exponent. At the login screen, the administrator account will often be prominently displayed. If you’re not sure, you can match the username or profile picture to the administrators on the Users Groups screen.

Resetting Your Password

If you have forgotten your administrator password, you can still regain access through several methods. Here are the different ways you can reset your password:

Using Apple ID

If your Mac is linked with an Apple ID account:

Attempt to log in to your Mac using the incorrect password several times. When the login screen prompts to enter your Apple ID to reset the password, click on the Options or equivalent. Provide your Apple ID email and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.

Using Recovery Mode

If you prefer not to use your Apple ID or if Recovery Mode is your last resort:

Restart your Mac and immediately hold down the Command (?) R keys after hearing the startup sound. Your Mac will boot into Recovery Mode. Once in Recovery Mode, go to the Utilities menu and select Terminal. In the Terminal window, type resetpassword and press Enter. The Reset Password utility will open, allowing you to select the specific account and reset the password.

Using Another Admin Account

If there’s another admin account on the Mac:

Log into the other admin account. Go to System Preferences > Users Groups. Select the account for which you need to reset the password and click on the Note button. Follow the prompts to change the password for the selected user account.

Additional Tips

Ensure that you can remember the administrator name and password. If you have reason to believe the administrator account has been removed or you cannot access any of the above options, you may need to contact Apple Support for further assistance.

The administrator name is often the first name used during setup or the most recent user added with administrative privileges.

The shortname, derived from the first word of the administrator's full name and converted to lowercase, is also useful when accessing files or recognising the user account.