I'm trying to set up a new computer, but I can't get past the "create a computer account" box because no matter what I do I keep getting the message "the name you entered can't be used" and "the name is not available. Enter a different name"
What can I do? I have tried everything to work around this and I keep getting the same message.
Hi MBPiM20,
To make sure we're on the same page, did you previously try creating an account on this computer with the same name? Are you able to create an account with a different username or does it always give this error?
If there is already an existing account on the Mac with that same name, that error is expected as you would be unable to have two accounts with the exact same name on the device.
If not, and there's no other accounts or data as of yet, try reinstalling macOS as outlined in the following article and then set it up again.
Cheers!
Hi MBPiM20,
To make sure we're on the same page, did you previously try creating an account on this computer with the same name? Are you able to create an account with a different username or does it always give this error?
If there is already an existing account on the Mac with that same name, that error is expected as you would be unable to have two accounts with the exact same name on the device.
If not, and there's no other accounts or data as of yet, try reinstalling macOS as outlined in the following article and then set it up again.
Cheers!
Thanks for the reply back, MBPiM20.
We want to clarify something. When you refer to the account you are being asked to create, and getting errors with, do you mean an Apple ID for your church?
If so, that would explain why you'd be getting those errors specifically seeing that you couldn't create something with the same name. You may need to have a specific email address to use for the church purposes that you can then utilize to create an Apple ID.
That will allow you to use that specific Apple ID account for the church Mac, keeping your personal information separate. If you are referring to something else showing on the display, let us know.
How to create a new Apple ID - Apple Support
All the best.
I have the same issue on my MacBook M1 Pro. I've tried different names for creating computer account. Got the same message: the name you entered can not be used. Then I' rebooted MacBook and was all these accounts. But it would tell me the password was wrong. Then I reinstalled the system again logging into my Apple ID. When creating user account, got the same message: the name you entered can not be used. Rebooted. Saw created account on the start screen. Entered password: "the password is wrong" entered Apple ID credentials. Again, Apple ID password is wrong (window is trembling), thou I've entered this password thousand of times and many times today during the installation. I can't format my disk: there is my data on it
Initially I deleted everything and had a blank hard drive, which caused a few problems, as I couldn't do anything with it until I loaded OS 11.4 I think, which is what I was instructed to do. At that point I tried to set the computer up, not using my personal user name and password. I had not entered anything that was even related to me as far as I know at that point. I want to use the computer at our church and not have my personal account associated with it at all if possible, and would prefer to still do that, even if it means going through the process again. When I started the computer up to set it up, it gave me a screen that looked like I was setting up a new computer, but when I got to the account setup, I tried to set up a new account that I could use just for our church going forward as I have 2 other Mac computers that I would prefer to change over to that new account at some point. sadly everything I tried to set up was rejected except my personal account. I would love to know how to get around that if possible.
Initially I did set it up with my personal account. However I deleted everything, or so I thought because when I got into the disk utility the drive appeared with red where it was deleted. I suspect what I need to do is just get into the system again and erase all content and settings as if I was going to give it away or sell it. Before I do that I probably need to set up an ID I can use for the church only going forward.
Before reinstalling the system I've moved my user's folder to another partition using system preferences
the name you entered can not be used
