Section 49. Reset a Lost .Mac Password


49. Reset a Lost .Mac Password

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

45 Sign Up for .Mac


Everyone forgets passwords. Even with the help of Keychain (Apple's password-management system, which is described in 135 Extract a Password from the Keychain ), passwords can get lostand your .Mac password, because it holds the key to all your .Mac services on which you might come to rely, is an especially bad one to lose.

KEY TERM

Keychain A technology built into Mac OS X that keeps track of all your passwords for you, whether in web pages, applications, or other parts of the system. A single master Keychain password unlocks all your other passwords to be used automatically on request.


Fortunately, the procedure for recovering access to your .Mac account isn't difficult. Apple provides two methods for obtaining a new password, which you can choose between depending on your circumstances.

1.
Go to the .Mac Login Screen

Using your web browser, go to the .Mac website at http://www.mac.com and click the Log in link to attempt to log in. You are presented with the main .Mac login screen.

2.
Click the Forgot Your Password? Link

If you can't remember your password, click the Forgot Your Password? link below the password field to begin the password recovery process.

3.
Enter Your Apple ID (.Mac Email Address)

Your Apple ID is the same as your .Mac email address, < membername >@mac.com . Enter that into the Apple ID field and click Continue .

49. Reset a Lost .Mac Password


4.
Choose a Recovery Method

You are given two options for how to reset your password. If you can access your @mac.com email (and are therefore only trying to change your password, rather than recover a lost one), use Option 1 , in which Apple sends you an activation code in an email message to that account. If, however, you don't have access to that account (which is likely the case if you don't know your .Mac password), choose Option 2 , which asks you for your verification question's answer.

5.
Answer Verification Prompts

Apple first asks for your birthday. Provide this date and click Continue. You are then asked your verification question. You must provide the exact answer that you specified in your account information. If you do, you will be taken to the screen where you can enter a new password.

6.
Change Your Password

Apple has a fairly lax policy regarding password "strength," or the alphanumeric complexity of the password string. (A strong password contains mixed uppercase and lowercase letters , numbers , and special characters, and cannot be found in any dictionary.) All Apple requires is that the password be at least six characters long, and that it not be exactly the same as your Apple ID (your .Mac email address). You can use your old password, too, if you have found your way into this procedure accidentallyso don't worry about having to come up with a new and unused password if you only have one password in mind. (.Mac does not tell you what your old password is, as a security measure.)

After changing your password, you are given a set of links to lead you back to the .Mac login page or to various other destinations at Apple's site.



MAC OS X Tiger in a Snap
Mac OS X Tiger in a Snap
ISBN: 0672327066
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2001
Pages: 212
Authors: Brian Tiemann

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