01-05-2006, 12:42 AM

Hi. i have had my ibook for over a year now but i have come to realize that i don't remember what i had set for my master password. Does anyone know hot to retrieve it or what should i do if i suddenly be required to know it? Thanx in advance.

01-05-2006, 01:45 AM

You'll need your installation cds/dvd. Here you go: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106156

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to "Resetting the original administrator account password".

Make sure to use the search function, this has been answered a many times, unfortunately.

01-05-2006, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by iWhat

You'll need your installation cds/dvd. Here you go:
Make sure to use the search function, this has been answered a many times, unfortunately.

No joke. And before you ask, YES, you absolutely must have the system's Software Restore CD or a copy of Mac OS X to reset the master password. There is no other way to do it.

01-08-2006, 07:08 PM

First of all, I am not talking about the administrative password. I actually know my password. Instead what I am asking is how can I retrieve the "MASTER PASSWORD." Because my home file is protected by FileVault, I will need to know my MASTER PASSWORD if I ever forget my administrative password. And also, I am the only user of this computer. Please read carefully the next time before you respond. Thank you.

01-09-2006, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by xuankristy

First of all, I am not talking about the administrative password. I actually know my password. Instead what I am asking is how can I retrieve the "MASTER PASSWORD." Because my home file is protected by FileVault, I will need to know my MASTER PASSWORD if I ever forget my administrative password. And also, I am the only user of this computer. Please read carefully the next time before you respond. Thank you.

Well, since you're being so rude about it, it's pretty hard to feel sorry for you. But they don't call it MASTER PASSWORD for nothing. If you as the computer administrator don't remember the password, there is no way to reset it and there's no way to retrieve it:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...en/mh1909.html

01-17-2007, 11:51 AM

I agree with the previous poster - people here don't read the question closely before they try to answer it.

If you have forgotton your Master Password AND you have not turned on FileVault (and therefore you have no material encrypted by FileVault), THEN you can reset your Master Password by deleting the files:

/Library/Keychains/FileVaultMaster.cer
/Library/Keychains/FileVaultMaster.keychain

Once these files have been deleted, you can go into the Security part of System Preferences and set a new Master Password.

The only time that this will not work is if you HAVE turned on FileVault AND you have some FileVault encrypted files. You will not be able to use the Master Password facility for those files after you delete the files /Library/Keychains/FileVaultMaster.* .

06-24-2009, 03:44 PM

To the above advice on resetting the master password: Thank you so very much. Your remedy worked perfectly!

03-31-2010, 06:34 PM

Thank You! I was getting worried I was going to need my master password and not know it someday! But I got it now! Thanks!

06-05-2010, 02:45 PM

Just a note that some may find interesting:

I had 1 admin account on my mac running Mac OS X 10.5.8. It was not protected by file vault but a Master Password had been set. Trying to locate the FileVaultMaster.* files was useless through the HD icon. I opened up terminal and navigated to the /Library/Keychain directory and listed the contents of that directory, but still could not locate that file. It wasn't until i used su and the root password and executed

# rm /Library/Keychain/FileVaultMaster.*

that the Master PW was reset. I am not sure why this occurred, and am pleased it did resolve my issue, but if anyone has some insight on why this happened please let me know.


Thanks

12-24-2010, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by NanuNanu

If you have forgotton your Master Password AND you have not turned on FileVault (and therefore you have no material encrypted by FileVault), THEN you can reset your Master Password by deleting the files:

/Library/Keychains/FileVaultMaster.cer
/Library/Keychains/FileVaultMaster.keychain

I too want to thank you for this tip! There's no excuse for forgetting my master password, nor does it bode well as I'm about to set up filevault. But I'm glad to get a second chance...

12-24-2010, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by inhumandecency

I too want to thank you for this tip! There's no excuse for forgetting my master password, nor does it bode well as I'm about to set up filevault. But I'm glad to get a second chance...

Forget that password and you are screwed.

12-24-2010, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by inhumandecency

I too want to thank you for this tip! There's no excuse for forgetting my master password, nor does it bode well as I'm about to set up filevault. But I'm glad to get a second chance...

Are you sure you want to set up FileVault ?? I would read Peoples Take on FileVault.

Basically unless you have some Super Duper Secret Squirrel stuff you need to encrypt ( probably 99.99999% of your data wont need it) then you are asking for trouble. A quick google will bring you up multitudes of people having problems.
Its 1 thing  should not have put this in the OS without Mega Warnings ...

Just saying, might be something to think about. Hate to see you back here saying you have run out of Disk Space and you cant turn it off

12-25-2010, 03:40 AM

Better solution for 99% of the 1% of users who actually do in fact need to encrypt anything: use an encrypted disk image. Easy to create, easy to manage, and does not put all your other data at risk if you forget the password.

02-03-2013, 12:33 AM

i did the thing with the terminal and this is what i got


su wonder alex-swerdlows-power-mac-g5:~ alexswerdlow$ su wonder # rm /Library/KeeVaultMaster.*
Password:
su: Sorry
alex-swerdlows-power-mac-g5:~ alexswerdlow$

can someone please help when i type in a password it says sorry


Just a note that some may find interesting:

I had 1 admin account on my mac running Mac OS X 10.5.8. It was not protected by file vault but a Master Password had been set. Trying to locate the FileVaultMaster.* files was useless through the HD icon. I opened up terminal and navigated to the /Library/Keychain directory and listed the contents of that directory, but still could not locate that file. It wasn't until i used su and the root password and executed

# rm /Library/Keychain/FileVaultMaster.*

that the Master PW was reset. I am not sure why this occurred, and am pleased it did resolve my issue, but if anyone has some insight on why this happened please let me know.
when u say su and rootpassword do u mean type: su {and your root password} or what