Swif allows administrators to securely reset an employee’s device password for managed devices. This is commonly used when an employee forgets their password, is locked out, or during security incidents and offboarding.
Password reset behavior varies by operating system. On macOS, Swif uses a dedicated Swif Admin account to perform password changes securely and audibly.
Before You Begin
Ensure the following before resetting a password:
The device is enrolled and active in Swif
The device is online
You have admin permissions in Swif
The target user account exists on the device
macOS Password Reset (How It Works)
On macOS devices, Swif does not bypass system security. Instead:
Swif creates and manages a Swif Admin account on the device
This admin account is used to authorize password changes
The reset action follows native macOS security rules
The user’s existing password is replaced immediately
This approach ensures:
Full auditability
Compatibility with FileVault
No unsupported system modifications
ℹ️ For security reasons, macOS may require admin authentication when password reset requests occur frequently.
How to Reset a Password
Step 1: Open the Device
Go to Device Management → Devices
Select the employee’s Mac
Open the Accounts tab
Step 2: Select the User Account
Locate the user whose password needs to be reset
Click the ⋮ (More actions) menu
Select Reset Password
Step 3: Authenticate the Action
You will see a Reset Password dialog with a step-by-step flow:
1. Authentication
Enter the Swif Admin account credentials
In some cases, the current user password may also be required
This step ensures the reset is authorized by macOS
You may see a message such as:
“For security reasons, an admin account password is required to reset the password.”
2. Set New Password
Enter the new password for the user
Password policies configured in Swif will be enforced
3. Share Password
Securely share the new password with the employee
Recommend changing it after first login
Click Proceed → Save Changes to complete the reset.
What Happens After the Reset
The previous password is immediately invalid
The user can log in with the new password
The action is recorded in Audit Trails
Device compliance status updates automatically
FileVault Notes (macOS)
If FileVault is enabled:
The user may need to log in once to fully unlock disk access
No data loss occurs
Supported Platforms
Platform | Password Reset Support |
macOS | ✅ Supported (via Swif Admin) |
Windows | ✅ Supported |
Linux | ✅ Supported |
Mobile (iOS/iPadOS) | ❌ Not supported – device wipe may be required |
Android | ✅ Supported. Learn more → |
Security Best Practices
Verify user identity before resetting passwords
Use temporary passwords when possible
Encourage users to rotate passwords after login
Review reset actions in Audit Trails
Combine with temporary admin elevation if troubleshooting is required
Troubleshooting
Reset option unavailable
Device may be offline
User still can’t log in
Confirm correct account was reset
Check FileVault status
Retry the reset after device check-in
Summary
Swif provides a secure, OS-native way to reset employee device passwords.
On macOS, the Swif Admin account ensures:
Secure authorization
Full compliance with Apple security controls
Complete audit visibility
This approach minimizes downtime while maintaining enterprise-grade security.