Changing Account Passwords and Usernames in Mac OS X
One of the most important and crucial parts of an account is its password because this ensures security. Even though your system is hardly noticeable, it is still included in the enormous public network when connected to the internet. Shutting down your system when it is not in use is inadequate protection, so it is necessary to create secure passwords.
Your passwords protect all your files in your account, as mentioned earlier as well as your computer and system files. But sometimes you may feel the need to change your password for some reasons such as the knowledge of somebody else, its susceptibility to be traced up, or your failure to remember it. How then can passwords be changed, specifically when you are using a Mac OS X?
How to Change your Mac Password
Here are the few simple steps to follow to change your os x password:
- Log in with an administrator account.
- From the Apple Menu, choose System Preferences.
- From the View Menu, choose Accounts.
- If the preferences pane is locked, click the lock button and enter an administrator name and password.
- Select the username whose password you want to change.
- Click the Reset Password button (Mac OS X v10.3 and v10.4) or the Change Password button (Mac OS X v10.5 or later).
- Click in the Old Password box and type your old password.
- Click in the New Password box and type your new password.
- Type your new password again in the Verify box.
- Add a hint if desired; type it to help you remember your password. You’ll see that hint the next time you forget your password upon logging in.
- Click Change Password
- YELLOW PADLOCK MUST BE OPEN TO MAKE CHANGES, CLOSED TO PREVENT FUTHER CHANGES WITHOUT ADMINISTRATOR'S PASSWORD
Passwords for administrator accounts must not be blank.
Changing a User Account Name in OS X
Resetting an account password in Mac OS X is that easy. Changing an account name is similarly not difficult. But remember that before messing around with user folders, you should back up your system files and settings. You are not going to delete anything, but you are going to use the command line with a change that can only be “un-done” through restoration of a backup.
To Change a user account name on a Mac in OS X follow this procedure for Mac OS X 10.6:
- From the Apple Menu, choose System Preferences and choose Accounts.
- Make a new user by clicking on the + button. Choose admin user.
- Log out as you and log in as the new admin user.
- Go back to System Preferences and choose Accounts. Select the user to rename and press – as if you are deleting. When asked about what you want to do with the user’s data, choose “Don’t change the home folder.” This will rename the folder by adding (Deleted) to the name.
- Open terminal and type:
sudo mv /Users/old name\ \(Deleted\) /Users/new name
For example, sudo mv /Users/jonny\ \(Deleted\) /Users/bobby when changing the name from jonny to bobby.
You will be asked to enter a password because the sudo bit runs the command as the root user. Any admin user’s password will do. The characters won’t appear on the screen while you are typing.
You should now have a folder in the Users folder with the right name. You must check the name if it is correct.
- Go back to System Preferences and choose Accounts. Make a new user by clicking on +.
- Enter the necessary details for the new user. Make sure the Account Name is exactly the same as the folder name you just used for the new user name.
- Click OK. The computer will say that a folder already exists for the user and will ask if you want to choose that folder for the home. Click OK.
- You can now log in as the renamed user.
The second process may be quite long, but it will be easy if you follow all the instructions correctly.
Don’t rely on the fact that changing passwords and account names in MAC OS X is simple. It is important to create secure passwords and well thought of account names from the start as this will not only lessen your work, but also guarantee your system’s protection. RAMIRO CAMACHO