cannot reset login password

iMac Login Password Problem – macOS Ventura 13.7.8

If your wife cannot log in to her iMac because her password is being rejected, even after using resetpassword in Recovery Mode, there are several things worth checking before attempting another reset.

The goal is to restore access without risking her files or data.

1. Check the keyboard and password

Before doing anything else:

• Make sure Caps Lock is off.
• Check the keyboard layout and input language.
• Pay particular attention to special characters.
• If possible, try a wired USB keyboard.

Different keyboard layouts can produce different characters, particularly when the password contains symbols.

Apple's guide: If you've forgotten your Mac login password.

2. Confirm the correct account was reset

If the iMac has multiple user accounts, make sure you reset your wife's actual account.

When using Recovery Mode, check the account name carefully. If you're unsure whether the correct account was selected, confirm this before trying another reset.

3. Check what happens after entering the password

The symptoms are important:

• Login window shakes: The password may still be incorrect, or the wrong account may be selected.
• Password accepted, but login screen returns: The problem may involve the user account or macOS.
• Mac requests a disk password or recovery key: FileVault encryption may be involved.
• Keychain warning appears: The account may be accessible, but saved passwords may not unlock.

4. Try another administrator account

If another administrator account exists, try logging into it.

If successful, check whether your wife's account is still present. You may also be able to reset her password through System Settings > Users & Groups.

This helps determine whether the problem is specific to her account.

5. Try Safe Mode

If the password is accepted but the Mac returns to the login screen, Safe Mode may help identify a software-related problem.

Intel iMac:

1. Shut down the Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately hold Shift.
3. Keep holding Shift until the login window appears.
4. Try logging in.

Apple silicon iMac:

1. Shut down the Mac.
2. Hold the power button until startup options appear.
3. Select the startup disk.
4. Hold Shift and select Continue in Safe Mode.
5. Try logging in.

If Safe Mode works, restart normally and check whether the problem has cleared.

Apple's guide: Start up your Mac in safe mode.

6. Check whether FileVault is involved

FileVault encrypts the startup disk. A password reset may not resolve every issue involving the encrypted disk.

Check whether the iMac requests a normal login password, a disk-unlock password, a FileVault recovery key, or an Apple Account password.

These are different credentials. A FileVault recovery key is separate from the normal login password.

Apple's guide: Protect data with FileVault.

7. Consider the login keychain

A password reset can affect the login keychain, which stores saved passwords and other credentials.

If the account password is changed without knowing the old password, the existing keychain may not unlock automatically.

macOS may offer to create a new keychain. This can resolve the issue, but it will not recover passwords stored in the old keychain.

I would leave this until the account login itself is working.

8. Reset the password again, if necessary

If the earlier checks fail:

1. Shut down the iMac.
2. Start in macOS Recovery.
3. Open Terminal from the Utilities menu.
4. Enter resetpassword and press Return.
5. Follow the prompts to reset your wife's password.
6. Restart normally.

Use a temporary password containing only letters and numbers to rule out keyboard-layout problems. Once she can log in, she can change it to a stronger password.

Apple's guide: Reset your Mac login password.

9. Avoid erasing the Mac

Do not erase the iMac at this stage.

Make sure important files are backed up before attempting anything that could affect the startup disk. Reinstalling macOS may be possible without erasing the disk, but I would leave this as a later option.

Do not select "Erase Mac" unless you are certain the important files are backed up or no longer needed.

A few questions

Since you have already used resetpassword, the most useful next step is to establish exactly what happens when your wife attempts to log in.

1. Does the login screen shake, or does it accept the password and return to the login screen?
2. Approximately what year is the iMac? Is it Intel or Apple silicon?
3. Is there another administrator account you can successfully log into?

My recommendation is to avoid resetting the password repeatedly until we know what is happening at the login screen. This should help identify the problem without unnecessarily risking your wife's files.

Use the reset option at > If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support

Welcome and thank you for reaching out. 🤗

If you have forgotten your Mac login password; after trying three attempts, you should find an option to reset your password with your Apple Account.

From there, you simply follow the prompts and your Mac should simply restart like normal.

NOTE: You may need to sign back into iCloud and other services after the successful login.

For a complete step-by-step guide, click here.

Contact Support:

• United States: 1-800-APLCARE.
• Contact Support.

Additional Support:

• Mac Support.
• Mac User Guide.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian | Community Volunteer