Help with Macbook... 11.7.10 MacOS Big Sur
November 27, 2023 12:34 PM
A friend has a MacBook Air running 11.7.10 MacOS Big Sur. It is repeatedly asking her for her Admin Password. Her Apple ID password is not working. Does that OS have separate passwords for admin and Apple ID? If so, what can she do if she's forgotten it? Under Users her account is only one listed. Thanks.
More than one account per computer can be an "Admin": it's a level of privilege on the machine, to do tasks that are more sensitive. If someone is the only user, then they will be set up as an Admin account.
The AppleID is separate from the accounts on your computer: it manages ownership of files in Apple's cloud.
So these are apples and oranges, if you will. Their only overlap is that a local user (who of course has an AppleID) might be an ordinary user of that computer or might be trusted as an Admin.
If you have forgotten the local account password (for an Admin account)? Huh, never done that. Apple has instructions: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102633
posted by wenestvedt at 12:44 PM on November 27, 2023
The AppleID is separate from the accounts on your computer: it manages ownership of files in Apple's cloud.
So these are apples and oranges, if you will. Their only overlap is that a local user (who of course has an AppleID) might be an ordinary user of that computer or might be trusted as an Admin.
If you have forgotten the local account password (for an Admin account)? Huh, never done that. Apple has instructions: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102633
posted by wenestvedt at 12:44 PM on November 27, 2023
Here's the Big Sur macOS User Guide page on the different accounts/passwords.
A login password or user password is for logging on to the computer. The prompt you're getting on the computer is expecting the username and password of an administrator account.
posted by zamboni at 1:01 PM on November 27, 2023
A login password or user password is for logging on to the computer. The prompt you're getting on the computer is expecting the username and password of an administrator account.
A login password, also called a user password, allows you to log in and access the information on your Mac. When you create your login password, be sure it’s easily memorable, write it down, and keep it in a secure location. Privileges are limited by the type of user. An administrator user is required to perform many important tasks, such as setting certain system preferences, installing software, and administering standard users.AppleID is for working with central Apple services - you might use it to buy apps, subscribe to Apple TV, or sign into iMessage.
An Apple ID gives you access to the iTunes Store, the App Store, Apple Books, iCloud, FaceTime, and other Apple services. It consists of an email address (for example, michael_cavanna@icloud.com) and a password. Apple recommends you use the same Apple ID for all Apple services. When you create your Apple ID password, be sure it’s easily memorable, write it down, and keep it in a secure location. You can also use your Apple ID to reset your login password if you forget it.If they remember their AppleID password but not their login password, follow wenestvedt's link to see if they can reset the latter.
posted by zamboni at 1:01 PM on November 27, 2023
Yeah, I'd be a bit concerned about why it's asking for an admin password. Usually you get that request when something requires elevated privileges (such as a software installer wanting to install things in system-wide directories) and it shouldn't come as a surprise. If something is popping up and asking for elevated privileges I'd be pretty suspicious about what's going on and I'd be understandably reluctant to provide it with an admin password.
As far as "the admin password" - usually there isn't a specific account on a MacOS system called "admin". Instead, some of the user accounts that are created on the system, especially the first one created at startup, are marked as having admin privileges. These accounts are allowed to essentially su / sudo to perform functions requiring privileges that are denied to non-admin accounts. Each such account would have its own password, so there could be more than one "admin password" on the machine, although most Mac users don't set up individual per-user accounts it's a possibility that someone did at some time in the past.
Going into the "Users and Groups" panel under (Apple Menu) -> "System Settings" will show you whether the account your friend uses is even set up as an admin account.
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:01 PM on November 27, 2023
As far as "the admin password" - usually there isn't a specific account on a MacOS system called "admin". Instead, some of the user accounts that are created on the system, especially the first one created at startup, are marked as having admin privileges. These accounts are allowed to essentially su / sudo to perform functions requiring privileges that are denied to non-admin accounts. Each such account would have its own password, so there could be more than one "admin password" on the machine, although most Mac users don't set up individual per-user accounts it's a possibility that someone did at some time in the past.
Going into the "Users and Groups" panel under (Apple Menu) -> "System Settings" will show you whether the account your friend uses is even set up as an admin account.
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:01 PM on November 27, 2023
(Side note: Big Sur is now no longer receiving security updates. If the Air can't be upgraded to Monterey or later, today is a pretty good time to consider a hardware upgrade.)
posted by zamboni at 1:15 PM on November 27, 2023
posted by zamboni at 1:15 PM on November 27, 2023
She's trying to change something in the Privacy area which is why it's asking for the password.
Thanks for the answers, folks. We'll try wenestvedt's link's instructions. Cheers.
posted by dobbs at 2:13 PM on November 27, 2023
Thanks for the answers, folks. We'll try wenestvedt's link's instructions. Cheers.
posted by dobbs at 2:13 PM on November 27, 2023
Most users are set up with privilege to change items in Settings, her login and password should be enough to unlock settings and change it up.
(Big Sur is no longer getting updates, but this "unlock settings" behaviour has been the norm for over a decade and any upgrade would still require user and password to unlock Settings.)
posted by k3ninho at 12:51 AM on December 2, 2023
(Big Sur is no longer getting updates, but this "unlock settings" behaviour has been the norm for over a decade and any upgrade would still require user and password to unlock Settings.)
posted by k3ninho at 12:51 AM on December 2, 2023
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Why is asking for the Admin password? If it's not something important, you can just hit cancel and move on, but eventually, she'll need to know her password.
You can try this is she doesn't:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102673
posted by jonathanhughes at 12:43 PM on November 27, 2023