macOS Recovery Admin User Creator

Easily create and verify an admin user account on Intel-based Macs using Terminal in macOS Recovery Mode.

This repository provides two robust shell scripts to create and verify an admin user account on macOS while booted into Recovery Mode. Ideal for system administrators, repair techs, or advanced users needing to regain access or create fallback user accounts on Intel-based Macs.

🚀 Features

• Fully automated creation of a new local admin user
• Safe operation from Recovery Mode with volume checks
• Dynamically assigns correct UID
• Sets login shell, home directory, and permissions
• Adds the user to the admin group (GID 80)
• Separate verification script checks:
  • Directory Services entry
  • Password status
  • Admin group membership
  • Home directory structure and permissions

📦 Contents

File	Description
create_adminuser.sh	Creates a new admin user
check_adminuser.sh	Verifies user creation and configuration
README.md	Project overview and usage instructions
README.txt	Terminal-friendly version of instructions

🔧 Usage

1. Boot the target Mac into Recovery Mode (Cmd + R during startup).

2. Open Terminal from the menu bar (Utilities → Terminal).

3. Insert the USB drive containing these scripts.

4. Run the creation script: bash /Volumes/<YourUSB>/create_adminuser.sh

5. (Optional) Run the verification script: bash /Volumes/<YourUSB>/check_adminuser.sh

🔐 Default Credentials

• Username: adminuser
• Password: Password123

You can customize these by editing the create_adminuser.sh script before deployment.

⚠️ For security, it is strongly recommended to change the password upon first login.

💡 Tip

You can rename the scripts to .command files and add chmod +x to make them double-clickable in Finder on a live system.

📜 License

MIT License