macOS · Accounts & Family
Change Your Password & Sign-in Method
This settings area covers your Mac account password, Touch ID fingerprint enrollment, and AutoFill for passwords and passkeys saved in your keychain. It's where you change your login password and decide how quickly Touch ID or a password is required to unlock the Mac.
How to open Password & Sign-in
- Open System Settings → [your name] → Sign-in & Security (or Touch ID & Password on supported models).
- Click 'Change Password' and enter your current and new password.
- Under Touch ID, click 'Add Fingerprint' and follow the prompts to enroll.
- Review which actions (unlock, Apple Pay, password AutoFill) Touch ID is allowed to approve.
What you should know
- Change the password used to log into and unlock this Mac.
- Enroll up to three fingerprints for Touch ID on supported Macs.
- Turn on AutoFill so saved passwords and passkeys fill in automatically in apps and Safari.
- See which apps and websites are allowed to use Touch ID or your password for sign-in.
If you forget your account password and don't have FileVault recovery options set up, you can permanently lose access to your files.
Why it matters
Your login password is the last line of defense protecting every file, saved credential, and encrypted volume on your Mac, so a weak or reused password undermines every other security setting. Touch ID makes strong security practical day to day by removing the friction of typing a long password repeatedly.
Best practices
- Use a unique, strong password rather than reusing one from another account or service.
- Enroll Touch ID if your Mac supports it so you're not tempted to use a weaker, easier-to-type password.
- Store your password's hint or a recovery method somewhere safe rather than relying on memory alone.
Common problems and fixes
- Touch ID stops recognizing a fingerprint reliably.
- Delete the fingerprint entry and re-enroll it, making sure your finger fully covers the sensor and the surface is clean and dry.
- Forgot the account password and can't log in.
- Use your Apple ID to reset it at the login screen if enabled, or boot into Recovery Mode and use Reset Password from the Utilities menu.
Tips and tricks
- Use the Keychain Access app to review or clean up saved passwords tied to your account.
Frequently asked questions
Does changing my Mac password change my Apple ID password too?
No, they're separate unless you specifically set your Mac account to use your Apple ID password for login.
Is Touch ID data stored anywhere Apple or apps can access it?
No, fingerprint data is stored only in the Secure Enclave on your Mac and never leaves the device or gets shared with apps or Apple.
Related settings
- Users & GroupsUsers & Groups lets you create additional accounts for other people who use this Mac, decide whether each one is an administrator or a standard user, and organize accounts into groups for permission purposes. It's the foundation for keeping multiple people's files and settings separate on a shared Mac.
- Lock ScreenLock Screen settings control when your Mac requires a password after sleep or screen saver, how long it waits before locking, and what's shown at the login window — all central to protecting your Mac from casual tampering or unauthorized access.
- FileVault Disk EncryptionFileVault encrypts the entire startup disk on your Mac, so your data stays protected even if the device is lost or stolen. Only someone with your password or recovery key can unlock and read the disk.
More Accounts & Family guides for macOS
- Apple Account & iCloud SynciCloud settings control which of your apps and data — Photos, Mail, Contacts, Find My Mac, and more — stay in sync across all your Apple devices, plus your iCloud storage plan.
- Family SharingFamily Sharing links up to six Apple IDs into one group so everyone can share iCloud+ storage, App Store and iTunes purchases, and subscriptions like Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade — without sharing passwords. It also gives parents tools like Ask to Buy and Screen Time to manage what kids can access.
- Internet AccountsInternet Accounts is where you add non-Apple email, contacts, and calendar accounts — like Google, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo, or a standard IMAP account — so they sync into Mail, Contacts, Calendar, and Notes. It's separate from your Apple ID and handles every other account you use on the Mac.
- Screen TimeScreen Time shows how much time you or a child spend in apps and on websites, and lets you set app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions that sync across signed-in Apple devices.
- iCloud KeychainiCloud Keychain securely stores and syncs passwords, passkeys, and payment information across your Apple devices using end-to-end encryption, and can autofill them in Safari and other apps.
- Game CenterGame Center settings control your public gaming profile, friends list, and social features like leaderboards and achievements that sync across Apple devices for supported games.