Activation Lock On M1 MacBook Air (Why Is Apple So Insensitive??)

Question

Level 1

8 points

Activation Lock On M1 MacBook Air (Why Is Apple So Insensitive??)

Hello! I’m sure some of you know about this issue, but it can’t continue like this.

I bought an M1 MacBook used from a reseller here in Nigeria. I’ve used it for about 4 months until one morning it suddenly started showing Activation Lock. Now it’s asking for the previous owner’s Apple ID which I don’t have and can never get. My reseller told me they paid cash for it at a public place and don’t have any real paper proof of purchase. Now, Apple support is saying if I don’t have proof of purchase (after sending them the receipt my reseller gave me), I won’t be able to deactivate the lock - which means my MacBook is now completely useless. Unless some magic happens. Has anybody even run into this issue and how did you fix it??

Apple is definitely going to lose me as a customer if this doesn’t get solved. I can’t waste $$$ like this. My Apple ID is connected to the device. How is that not enough proof that I now own the Mac? This can’t be the end of this. Apple needs to get my Mac fixed!

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.4

Posted on Sep 30, 2021 5:55 AM

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Answer 1

kayodeadams Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2021 10:25 AM in response to KiltedTim

But the Activation Lock didn’t kick in until 4 months+ after I started using it, and my reseller (whom I trust) also had it with them for months with no lock.

The point is: I KNOW for a fact that it’s not stolen.

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Answer 2

KiltedTim

Level 10

203,302 points

Sep 30, 2021 10:36 AM in response to kayodeadams

The only way to get the activation lock removed is for the ORIGINAL purchaser of the phone to take it to Apple with the ORIGINAL receipt from Apple or an authorized reseller.

Since you bought it used, and the reseller is not an authorized retailer, you're hosed.

Recycle it or turn it over to the police.

There is no way to bypass the activation lock without the original receipt or the credentials for the account used to lock it.

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Answer 3

ku4hx

Level 7

23,592 points

Sep 30, 2021 12:11 PM in response to kayodeadams

If you know for FACT it's not stolen, contact the original owner and ask for his help. Your reseller should have records of that legitimate transaction. Thing is, the original owner might not have known for some time he could deactivate and lock it. The fact that it worked for a period of time has no real meaning. Many people don't discover features right away, and from reading posts here, many have strange ideas about finding lost and stolen devices.

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Answer 4

kayodeadams Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2021 1:07 PM in response to ku4hx

Hey Ku4hx, thanks for your input. My reseller say they are trying to contact the person, but it’s looking almost possible as they’ve been trying for weeks now to no avail.

But thanks for your concern, though.

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Answer 5

KiltedTim

Level 10

203,302 points

Sep 30, 2021 9:04 AM in response to kayodeadams

We don't think buying a device secondhand means it's stolen... but when you buy something secondhand and it gets activation locked, that is a very good indication that it IS stolen...

Good luck.

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