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Please help me! MacOS Recovery is not working! How do I un-disable my stolen Macbook Air?

Hello! My Macbook Air was stolen and luckily the police were able to find it and they returned it to me. Unfortunately, I remotely locked and erased my macbook air through Find My thinking that I would be able to get back into my computer if it were to be returned to me. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. I set a passcode remotely via Find My and I remember it, but I am unable to get into my computer! It keeps going to a grey screen that says "Your computer has been disabled. Try again in 60 minutes." And this is after doing the whole Command-Option/Alt-Shift-R at startup and trying the internet recovery steps (nothing happens if I try just Command-R). It seems like it works at first after I type in the password that I remotely set and then it goes to the globe screen and seems like it will boot up but then it just goes back to the grey screen with the "Your computer is disabled..." I am 100% sure that this is the correct password so please don't ask that lol. I've tried waiting out the 60 minutes, but after 60 minutes it just says "Password incorrect. Please try again later." but it never lets me actually input a password! I tried bringing it to the apple store, but the technician wasn't using the correct command and told me that I needed to replace the whole keyboard. But clearly the keyboard is working fine if I can get the Command-Option/Alt-Shift-R to sort of work. I've attached pictures of what I see. Someone please help me! Is there another command I can try once I'm in the "Your computer is disabled..." screen to get a password input thing to pop-up? Please help! I don't want to get another computer if I can fix this one!


Posted on Feb 20, 2020 5:43 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 20, 2020 5:56 PM

Hey!


The initial screen you are seeing is a Firmware Password screen.


As for more information on the firmware password this is a great article too read over as well.

  • https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204455
  • this is usually something deliberately set up by the owner in the event a computer is stolen it can prevent recovery from being accessed properly.
  • This is not something that putting the device into lost mode would have set.


unfortunately in this case where most likely you have forgotten this firmware password the article states :

" If you can't remember your firmware password or passcode, schedule an in-person service appointment with an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. Bring your Mac to the appointment, and bring your original receipt or invoice as proof of purchase. "




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6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 20, 2020 5:56 PM in response to KTerez

Hey!


The initial screen you are seeing is a Firmware Password screen.


As for more information on the firmware password this is a great article too read over as well.

  • https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204455
  • this is usually something deliberately set up by the owner in the event a computer is stolen it can prevent recovery from being accessed properly.
  • This is not something that putting the device into lost mode would have set.


unfortunately in this case where most likely you have forgotten this firmware password the article states :

" If you can't remember your firmware password or passcode, schedule an in-person service appointment with an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. Bring your Mac to the appointment, and bring your original receipt or invoice as proof of purchase. "




Feb 20, 2020 6:49 PM in response to KTerez

Hey,


Remote Lock :

  • while yes, your correct, you need to enter your PIN for lost mode that you set on Find My, this can be disabled through iCloud.com/find.


as for the firmware password - the only way to get through this is to:

A - enter password correctly. [ the article that was provided above covers this. ]

B - provide proof of purchase at a local apple store or authorized retailer per the article.


Again this firmware password is not something that would have been set when you turned on lost mode as it is in place even if your computer never contacted iCloud again to receive the lost mode request.


Feb 20, 2020 6:04 PM in response to Mr-Styx

Yes, I know this is a firmware password. I set this firmware password myself when I remotely locked my computer. I am 100% sure that I have the correct password and I know because it's the same 4 digit pin as my debit card. The computer will let me type it in and appears as though it will boot up, but then it changes it's mind and says password incorrect and then try again later. But it never lets me try again unless I restart the computer. Is there something else I can try?

Feb 20, 2020 6:24 PM in response to Mr-Styx

On that link you sent it shows the System Lock PIN Code screen. That's the screen I need to get to in order to type in my passcode. How do I get there? Is there a key combination I can press to make that show up? The person who stole my computer typed in a bunch of incorrect passcodes and completely disabled the whole thing...

Please help me! MacOS Recovery is not working! How do I un-disable my stolen Macbook Air?

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