To change the login password on a MacBook Air, choose Apple menu > System Settings > Users & Groups, click the Info button (i) next to your name, and click Change. Enter your old password, type the new one twice, add a hint, and click Change Password.
These steps follow Apple’s Change the login password on Mac guide. They work the same on any Mac running a recent version of macOS, not just a MacBook Air.
In this article:
- Change your login password
- How the password hint works
- Change another user’s password
- If you forgot your password
- Log in automatically at startup
- Stop asking for a password after sleep
- FAQs
How to Change the Login Password on a MacBook Air
Apple suggests changing your login password from time to time to protect your privacy.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Users & Groups in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
- Click the Info button (i) next to your user name.
- Click Change.
- Enter your current password in the Old Password field.
- Enter the new password in New Password, then again in Verify.
- Enter a hint, then click Change Password.
Apple notes that your login password is the one you enter to unlock your Mac when you turn it on or wake it from sleep. It is not your Apple Account password, which you use for iCloud, the App Store and other Apple services.
Result: Your MacBook Air asks for the new password the next time you log in or unlock it.
How the Password Hint Works
Apple says the hint appears if you enter the wrong password three times in a row, or if you click the question mark in the password field on the login window. Pick something that reminds you of the password without giving it away, because anyone at the login window can see it.
How to Change Another User’s Password
If someone else on the Mac needs a new password, Apple’s Change a password or user picture guide says to open Users & Groups, click the Info button next to that user, and click Reset. Apple notes that both standard users and administrators can change their own password with the Change button.
What to Do If You Forgot Your Mac Login Password
Apple’s If you forgot your Mac login password article starts with a few simple checks:
- Restart your Mac. If there is no restart option, press and hold the power (or Touch ID) button for up to 10 seconds until it turns off, then turn it back on.
- At the login window, enter your Mac login password, not your Apple Account password, email or phone number.
- Check uppercase and lowercase letters. A Caps Lock symbol shows in the password field if Caps Lock is on.
- Check the Input menu in the corner of the login window to make sure the keyboard is set to the right language.
- If it still doesn’t work, click the question mark next to the password field to see your hint or a reset option such as “Reset Password.” If you don’t see one, try entering a password up to three times.
The reset steps vary by Mac. You may be asked for your recovery key or to sign in with your Apple Account. If you can still log in to your own account or another administrator account, you can change the password in Users & Groups instead.
How to Log In Automatically at Startup
Apple’s automatic login article explains how to skip the password at startup on macOS Ventura 13 or later:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Users & Groups.
- Choose your account from the Automatically log in as menu.
- Enter your password.
If the menu is dimmed, manual login is required. Apple says this happens when FileVault is turned on, when your organization supervises the Mac with a profile that blocks automatic login, or when the account uses an Apple Account password to log in. Even with automatic login on, you may still need your password after logging out, switching users or locking the screen.
Keep in mind: with automatic login on, anyone who opens your MacBook Air at startup can use it without a password.
How to Stop Asking for a Password After Sleep
Go to System Settings > Lock Screen and change Require password after screen saver begins or display is turned off. Apple notes this setting can’t be changed if iPhone Mirroring is set to authenticate automatically. To control when the screen saver starts, see how to choose when the screen saver turns on for your Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Mac login password the same as my Apple Account password?
Not usually. Apple treats them as separate passwords. The exception is an account set up to use an Apple Account password to log in.
How do I protect a single folder with a password?
See how to password protect a folder on a MacBook Air.
How do I rename my MacBook Air?
See how to change your MacBook Air’s name.
More Mac Guides
- How to free up space on a MacBook Air
- How to change your MacBook Air’s name
- How to change your contact card (My Card) on a Mac
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.