Remove the firmware password on a T2 Mac without Apple Support if you forgot it.

What is firmware password on a Mac?

The firmware password was created to "protect" your Mac. To put this simple this firmware protection guard you against someone who wants to obtain your data. They can’t boot into target mac disk or get access to your private data.

Quoting apple: When you set a firmware password, users who don’t have the password can’t start up from any disk other than the designated startup disk. - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204455

After Mac fimware password is enabled following options will be still available but will require a correct password in order to work:

Recovery Mode – (Command R)
Internet Recovery – (Command Option R or Command Option Shift R)

Starup items / options below will be disabled (when firmware password is set):

Target Disk Mode – (T)
Netboot (N) – (Remember Netboot?)
Single User Mode – (Command S)
Reset PRAM – (Option-Command-P-R)
Hardware Diagnostics – (D)
Verbose Mode – (Command V)
Eject CD-ROM or DVD – (Eject Key)
Safe Mode – (Shift Key)

How to firmware passwords changed through different years? (2006-2010), (2011-2017), (2018-2020)?

Years: 2006-2010 – The firmware password could be removed by either removing the battery, resetting the PRAM 3 times or removing RAM
Years: 2011-2017 - Apple decided to solder the memory to the logic board. The only way to remove the firmware password was to contact Apple.
Years: 2018-2020 - Apple added the T2 security chip (special chips that adds new layer of security). T2 chip runs an operating system called BridgeOS. Best way to remove T2 firmware password is to use special software called MacUnlocker can erase and reset the firmware password.

How to enable Mac firmware password?

Official Apple website provides the following way to set a firmware password on your Mac:

Start up from macOS Recovery.
When the utilities window appears, click Utilities in the menu bar, then choose Startup Security Utility or Firmware Password Utility.
Click Turn On Firmware Password.
Enter a firmware password in the fields provided, then click Set Password. Remember this password.
Quit the utility, then choose Apple menu > Restart.

Your Mac asks for the firmware password only when attempting to start up from a storage device other than the one selected in Startup Disk preferences, or when starting up from macOS Recovery. Enter the firmware password when you see the lock and password field:

What can you do if you forget the firmware password?

Typicall there are two ways you can try in order to solve the lost firmware password issue.

Contact Apple support
Use 3rd party firmware unlocking service

Method 1: Contact Apple Support

So you forgot your Mac firmware password and you still don’t remember it? At this point you can try calling Apple Authorized Support or visit Apple store with your hardware. Apple Authorized Support can reset or remove forgotten firmware password as long as you can provide a proof of purchase (and your support period is still active).

Try contacting the official Apple Support channels by phone, or schedule an appointment with a Genius Bar at a local Apple Store.

Method 2: Use Mac unlocker tool to erase firmware password on T2 chip

In perfect situation you have linked your Apple ID to your user account when you were performing the initial macos setup, if so it will be possible to use this Apple ID in order to reset your forgotten mac password.

If you don’t have Apple Store near you or your support period is no longer active you can try using Mac Unlocker Service to get rid of the Mac’s firmware password for good. At this point it doesn’t matter if you forgot the Mac firmware password, this service will erase of it for good.

Mac Unlocker is an instant solution to reset Mac firmware password protection and SecureBoot for all Apple Mac computers with a T2 security chip (MacBook Pro and Air, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, Mac Mini) without data loss. If you have a Mac manufactured between years 2018-2020 this is the right choice for you.

Mac Unlocker preserves data on your Mac, meaing you will have access to your private files after unlocking (no data-loss). (Assuming you have not enabled extra layers of security - meaning disk encryption (FileVault)).

How to use Mac unlocker:

Firstly, Download the software from the official website
Follow the procedure presented on the website mentioned above
If your machine will be supported purchase link will be generated in the application
Use the obtained key to perform the unlocking

Method 3: PRAM reset for older Macs (2006-2010)

This method should work for older Mac computers (2006-2010). Use the steps below:

Add or remove a stick of ram. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one.
Power on the mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R.
The system will restart with the ‘bong noise’, allow it to do this 3 times. On the third ‘bong’ you can let go of the keys.
The machine will now boot with a cleared password and reset PRAM/NVRAM.
You can shut down the machine and replace the original ram configuration.

Conclusions

We hope you've managed to reset your Mac firmware password correctly. From our end we recommend the Mac Unlocker software for the Mac machine with T2 chip. This software enables you to erase your firmware password without data loss.