Hi all. Are any of you aware of a way to reset the admin password using VoiceOver? I called Apple accessibility this morning for help with the strange password issue I've been having. The first guy to whom I spoke tried to walk me through the steps of resetting it via the Terminal in Recovery Mode on my MacBook Air. However, we were not successful because the password reset window kept losing focus. I had somebody coming over so I had to call them back. The second guy tried the same thing with me, but couldn't get it either. I'm talking about the password that comes up when on the log-on screen, not my Apple ID or any other password. Funny thing is though, I was never told this admin password, if one even existed which I think it did because I keep getting prompted for it when doing certain things including installing Yosemite. But I was never required to log on; my Mac just started and went to the desktop straightaway. So something's definitely messed up here. My parents are unaware of any admin password.
Comments
reset admin password
to put vo in focus in terminal, you need to interact with it first, it works like a text area. but for what you want to do, you really don't have to worry about it.
first, you need to boot into recovery utility, then launch terminal like the apple person told you. once in terminal, type
"resetpassword" without the quote and press return.
what happens now is an application called "resetpassword" is being launched, if you are not automatically switch to that application, you need to switch to it. then just follow the prompt there.
the only question is do you have FileVault enabled? if yes, this won't work. in fact, i tried to hack my own FileVault enabled computer with various methods without success, which i'm actually happy to know.
Apple ID
If you have allowed your account password to be reset using your Apple ID, enter the password incorrectly three times in the login window. You will then be placed in a popover with a reset Apple ID button. Press that and in the resulting popover, enter your Apple ID and password and select reset password. If you're not sure of how this is set on your system, give it a try anyway, as this is how it is configured by default.
Reset password
For future reference, here is more information on using VoiceOver to reset the password in the Reset Password utility:
1) Startup from the Recovery partition and adjust the VoiceOver volume to a comfortable level.
2) Select Utilities menu > Terminal.
3) Type the command "resetpassword" (without quotes) and press Return.
4) At this point, VoiceOver should speak "Reset Password is launched in the background". To move the VoiceOver cursor to the Reset Password utility, press Control-Option-F1-F1 (press F1 two times while holding Control and Option down), then select Reset Password > Go to Reset Password, from the Application Chooser.
5) VoiceOver commands can now be used to select the volume containing the user account (from the disk volume list), select the name of the user whose password needs to be reset (from the pop-up button), enter the user's new password into both secure edit text fields and press the Save button.
Not Letting Me Go to Menu
Hi all. I tried everything mentioned here, but it won't let me go to the App Chooser with VO-F1-F1. I have someone with working eyeballs coming over here at some point today who is pretty good on the Mac, and also a sighted next-door neighbor who has one. But I think I'm literally so close to upgrading, if this one focus issue would only work and I could change the password. Not trying to be mean at all, just saying.
function key
In recovery mode, the keys on the top row behave as standard function keys rather than how you might set it in your main OS X system. Therefore, you must hold down the function key to the left of the control key to access the chooser.
Well I finally did iIt
I finally have Yosemite installed and I think I'm all set. There seem to be some things I still need to configure right but I think I'm all good now. Thanks everybody for your help.