Locked 2020 Macbook Air (M1 Chip)
Discussion
Thought I'd ask here to see what's possible,
My neighbour's husband used to run his own small web-design company. Unfortunately he passed away last summer from Covid and the past few months, the entire estate has been subject to settlement / probate etc.
I've stayed close to the neighbour, made sure she's been ok etc. etc. Just before christmas, she gave me a Macbook Air, but it has the Activation Lock screen. The Mac Air is a 2020 model, M1 Chip, I have the box / cables / serial number etc.
The lock screen I see is as per below:
The company has been wound up, apparently her husband outsourced IT support to a 3rd party, the lock screen has asterixed out the email so I don't know who to contact to go down that route.
Is the device a paperweight or can this be salvaged?
My neighbour's husband used to run his own small web-design company. Unfortunately he passed away last summer from Covid and the past few months, the entire estate has been subject to settlement / probate etc.
I've stayed close to the neighbour, made sure she's been ok etc. etc. Just before christmas, she gave me a Macbook Air, but it has the Activation Lock screen. The Mac Air is a 2020 model, M1 Chip, I have the box / cables / serial number etc.
The lock screen I see is as per below:
The company has been wound up, apparently her husband outsourced IT support to a 3rd party, the lock screen has asterixed out the email so I don't know who to contact to go down that route.
Is the device a paperweight or can this be salvaged?
miniman said:
What options are there if you choose forgot Apple ID? Would be unusual for the laptop to be signed in to anything other than the user's Apple ID.
The only appleid I have is mine, so when I try that, i get a red text stating "this macbook is linked to another AppleID" and reverts back to that screen. I've youtube'd a couple of options, but all roads lead to this activation lock screenFactory reset won’t help, activation lock is to stop a stolen device simply being wiped and reset.
Help here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208510
May this thread be a lesson, if you have Apple devices you would like a friend/family member to have access to you when you depart then use the digital legacy feature. It is like a will for your Apple stuff and makes things so much easier for them.
Help here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208510
May this thread be a lesson, if you have Apple devices you would like a friend/family member to have access to you when you depart then use the digital legacy feature. It is like a will for your Apple stuff and makes things so much easier for them.
Prob best to contact Apple, but as far as I’m aware they connect to something in the shop so you have to take it in.
Last time I did it, they accepted any machine that was still supported. ie it is still getting updated by them. My Macbook Pro was way outside of its warranty period.
Last time I did it, they accepted any machine that was still supported. ie it is still getting updated by them. My Macbook Pro was way outside of its warranty period.
Edited by wyson on Tuesday 3rd January 07:55
the-norseman said:
is the appleID email address on that screen not the persons company name ie name@companyname.com?
No. The email address is some 3rd party IT support company that was managing 3-4 laptops and servers / websites for the guys company. Wife doesn’t know the company that was used, no contact details etc and I can’t fathom the company name as it’s all been asterisked out. Looks like it’s a paperweight which is a shame but I can use the power supply 
Fas1975 said:
the-norseman said:
is the appleID email address on that screen not the persons company name ie name@companyname.com?
No. The email address is some 3rd party IT support company that was managing 3-4 laptops and servers / websites for the guys company. Wife doesn’t know the company that was used, no contact details etc and I can’t fathom the company name as it’s all been asterisked out. Looks like it’s a paperweight which is a shame but I can use the power supply Mr Pointy said:
Fas1975 said:
the-norseman said:
is the appleID email address on that screen not the persons company name ie name@companyname.com?
No. The email address is some 3rd party IT support company that was managing 3-4 laptops and servers / websites for the guys company. Wife doesn’t know the company that was used, no contact details etc and I can’t fathom the company name as it’s all been asterisked out. Looks like it’s a paperweight which is a shame but I can use the power supply Appreciate everyone’s help
Fas1975 said:
That’s ridiculously intrusive to the family. She literally popped over to ask if it would be useful. She has grown up kids but they’re all abroad and have basically taken everything they wanted / needed from the estate and she’s just getting rid of odds and sods. Will put it in the “too difficult” pile and will let her know.
Appreciate everyone’s help
Sell it on ebay for spares?Appreciate everyone’s help
What outcome do you want? Is the laptop for you to use, or was she hoping you could recover his data from it for her? Either way, the person who is administering her husband's estate (most likely her) will have his death certificate which will enable Apple to bypass the activation lock for you.
Details at https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208510
Details at https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208510
LunarOne said:
What outcome do you want? Is the laptop for you to use, or was she hoping you could recover his data from it for her? Either way, the person who is administering her husband's estate (most likely her) will have his death certificate which will enable Apple to bypass the activation lock for you.
Details at https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208510
Ideal outcome is for me to use. Thanks for the link, that may be the way forward actually. Will pop over on the weekend and see if I can get a copy of the cert and take it to appleDetails at https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208510
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