Changing Passwords on a Mac
- Adam Dinnes
Step by step instructions for changing a password on an individual (faculty, staff, or student worker) Mac computer, and solutions for common password issues.
Changing Your Password
Changing your password for individual faculty, staff, or student workers with a Mac.
Sign into your computer using network login.
Open the Jamf Connect menu (Beloit “B” icon at the top of the screen near the clock).
Choose Change password…
If you’re on campus or connected to the Beloit College VPN:
Enter your current Beloit College account password.
Enter and verify a new password.
Click Change password.
If you’re not on campus or connected to the VPN:
Sign in with your current Beloit College username and password.
Click Change Password.
Enter your current account password.
Enter and verify a new password.
Click Update.
A password confirmation banner will briefly appear to confirm the change, or an error message will appear to indicate a failure.
Click Done, then OK.
Re-enter your Beloit College account password and click Sign in.
Enter your old password to sync your Mac with the network.
Remember to update the password on your other devices; attempts to log in with an outdated password can lock you out of your account. If this happens, contact LITS for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I change my password on the web at password.beloit.edu?
After changing your password through the http://beloit.edu website, your network password will be updated - you will be able to use your new password to log into your computer and other services. Your Mac password, however, will remain your old password until your Mac syncs with the network.
To fix this, you can log out of your Mac and back in - your Mac will ask for your old password and will sync with the network and your new password. Alternatively, you can remain logged into your computer and it will sync automatically after some time. Your Mac checks in once an hour to make sure it’s in sync, and will prompt you for your old password if needed.
You can also use the steps above to change your password using your Mac which will force the computer to sync immediately.
If my Mac is offline and I change my password on another device, how do I log into my Mac?
Continue to use the same password you previously used to log into your computer. The next time it connects to the network, it will sync with your current password.
What do I do if I forget my previous Mac password?
If you know your current password but not your old one/the one you used to log into your Mac, contact LITS for assistance in regaining access to your computer.
What do I do if I forget my new account password?
You can visit login.beloit.edu and click the Reset Password link to reset your account password, then try logging into your Mac again. You will need to re-enter your previous password; contact LITS for assistance if you no longer know what it is.