Keep Using Short Password on macOS (2024)

[onnttf]

Following the release of macOS Mojave 10.14, Apple updated its password requirements to require users to set a password of at least 4 characters for their accounts. However, many people have become accustomed to using short passwords, such as space.

This article provides a solution for those who wish to keep using short passwords.

Step 1: Clear the password policy

Open the Terminal application and type the following command:

pwpolicy -clearaccountpolicies

After pressing Enter, you will be prompted to enter the current password. It's important to note that the password you type is not visible. Simply press Enter when you have finished typing.

When the Terminal displays "Clearing global account policies", it will indicate that the password policy has been successfully cleared, as shown below:

Step 2: Change your password

To change your password, click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen, select System Preferences > Users & Groups and follow the on-screen instructions.

You can find that there are no password requirements during this process.

By following these steps, users can bypass the enforced password restrictions and use short passwords, such as space.