Before I Forget (itch) Mac OS

  1. Before I Forget (itch) Mac Os 11
  2. Before I Forget (itch) Mac Os Catalina

Before you begin

Make sure that your Mac is connected to the internet and using macOS Catalina or later. If using an earlier macOS, follow the password-reset steps for macOS Mojave or earlier.

Choose a reset option from the login window

Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.3, the third major update to the macOS Big Sur‌ operating system that launched in November. ‌macOS Big Sur‌ 11.3 comes two months after the release of. Before you begin Make sure that your Mac is connected to the internet and using macOS Catalina or later. If using an earlier macOS, follow the password-reset steps for macOS Mojave or earlier. Choose a reset option from the login window.

To see one of the following password-reset options, click the question mark next to the password field in the login window. If you don't see a question mark, enter any password three times.

If you see the option to reset using your Apple ID

  1. Click the option to reset using your Apple ID, then proceed as follows:
    • If your Mac restarts, skip to the next section, “If you see the option to restart and show password options.”
    • If your Mac doesn't restart, but immediately asks for your Apple ID credentials, enter that information and click Reset Password.
  2. If you're asked to create a new keychain to store the user's passwords, click OK to restart your Mac.
  3. If you're asked to select an admin user you know the password for, click “Forgot all passwords?”.
  4. If you see a Reset Password window with the option to Deactivate Mac, click Deactivate Mac, then click Deactivate to confirm.
  5. Enter your new password information, then click Next.
    If this window shows multiple user accounts, click the Set Password button next to each account name, then enter the new password information for each account.
  6. When the password reset is completed, click Restart.

If you see the option to restart and show password options

  1. Click the option to restart and show password reset options, then wait for your Mac to restart.
  2. You're then asked to take one of these steps:
    • Sign in with your Apple ID. You might also be asked to enter the verification code sent to your other devices.
    • Enter your FileVault recovery key. You received it when you turned on FileVault and chose to create a recovery key instead of allowing your iCloud account (Apple ID) to unlock your disk.
  3. Select a user that you want to reset the password for, then click Next.
  4. Enter your new password information, then click Next.
  5. When the password reset is completed, click Restart.

If you see the option to reset using your recovery key

  1. Click the option to reset using your recovery key, then enter your FileVault recovery key. You received it when you turned on FileVault and chose to create a recovery key instead of allowing your iCloud account (Apple ID) to unlock your disk.
  2. Enter your new password information, then click Reset Password.

If you can't reset your password

Learn what to do if you can't reset your password.

Before I Forget (itch) Mac OS

Moving to a new Mac? Before taking these steps, you can use Migration Assistant to move your files from the old Mac to your new Mac.

Before I Forget (itch) Mac Os 11

Create a backup

Make sure you have a current backup of your important files. Find out how to back up your Mac.

Sign out of iTunes in macOS Mojave or earlier

If you're using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes. From the menu bar at the top of the screen or iTunes window, choose Account > Authorisations > Deauthorise This Computer. Then enter your Apple ID and password and click Deauthorise.

Find out more about deauthorising computers that use your iTunes account.

Sign out of iCloud

If you're using macOS Catalina or later, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Apple ID. Select Overview in the sidebar, then click Sign Out.

If you're using macOS Mojave or earlier, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Sign Out.

You will be asked whether you want to keep a copy of your iCloud data on this Mac. You can click Keep a Copy, because you will be erasing your Mac later. Your iCloud data remains in iCloud and on any other devices that are signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID.

Sign out of iMessage

If you're using OS X Mountain Lion or later, open the Messages app, then choose Messages > Preferences from the menu bar. Click iMessage, then click Sign Out.

Reset NVRAM

Before I Forget (itch) Mac Os Catalina

Shut down your Mac, then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P and R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. This will clear user settings from the memory and restore certain security features that may have been altered previously.

Find out more about resetting NVRAM or PRAM.

Optional: Unpair Bluetooth devices that you’re planning to keep

If your Mac has been paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, trackpad or other Bluetooth device that you plan to keep, you can unpair it. This optional step prevents any accidental input or device connection when the Mac and Bluetooth device have separate owners but remain within Bluetooth range of each other.

If you're unpairing Bluetooth input devices from a desktop computer, such as an iMac, Mac mini or Mac Pro, you must plug in a USB keyboard and mouse to complete the remaining steps in this article.

To unpair a Bluetooth device, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth. Move your pointer over the device you want to unpair, then click the remove (x) button next to the device name.

Erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS

The best way to restore your Mac to its factory settings is to erase your hard drive and reinstall macOS.

Before

After macOS installation has been completed, the Mac will restart and display a setup assistant asking you to choose a country or region. To leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, don't continue the setup process. Instead, press Command-Q to shut down the Mac. When the new owner turns on the Mac, the setup assistant will guide them through the setup process.


Irrespective of the model or condition of your device, we can turn it into something good for you and good for the planet: Find out how to trade in or recycle your Mac with Apple Trade In.