"We are unable to process your activation lock request at this time."

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Level 1

5 points

"We are unable to process your activation lock request at this time."

I have an M1 MacBook Air. Now about 6 months ago I was travelling from JFK airport to London LHR airport and JFK lost the bag that the MacBook was in. I placed it into lost mode and it had a password on it with a fire vault encrypted drive. I fully suspected that I would never see the laptop again.

Fast forward about 2 weeks ago the suitcase turned up at my door step. I went to reset my MacBook to give it to my mom ad=s I had already brought another one, however when I was setting it up it said that it was activation locked with a gmail email. Now the strange thing is that I have never had a gmail account in my life before and neither has any of my family. I know that this is my MacBook because it has a dent on the lid.

I put in an activation lock request on January 20th as I have the original receipt from the Apple Store at Florida mall. I got an email back today saying "we are unable to process your activation lock request at this time". Why? I filled out all of the forms and attached the receipt, I am at a total loss, I need this MacBook to work again!

Posted on Jan 30, 2023 8:45 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MrHoffman

Level 10

147,049 points

Jan 31, 2023 8:48 AM in response to fallen_leaf

Whoever had this Mac was seemingly using it.

How it was accessed, is unclear.

You’ll need to (continue to) discuss this directly with Apple.

This is the usual path: Activation Lock for Mac - Apple Support

Nobody here can resolve this. Only Apple.

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Answer 2

paus_d_

Level 2

307 points

Jan 30, 2023 8:48 AM in response to fallen_leaf

If this is your Mac either you or someone set up your Apple ID with a Gmail account. Did someone own this before you? If you were able to put it in lost mode it’s obviously on the same account as your Apple ID.

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Answer 3

fallen_leaf Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 31, 2023 8:38 AM in response to paus_d_

No. Nobody has ever used this Mac before me. Also nobody I know has ever had a gmail account. My mom used the MacBook a few times but didn't sign into anything. Even if she did, she also only has a yahoo email. Nobody has an email starting with "a" either.

The MacBook shows it's locked to "a****@gmail.com". It is still in my account but it only shows as offline now and will never show as online or update its location from JFK airport to my house even when its connected to WIFI. I have also tried over ethernet but nothing :(

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Answer 4

fallen_leaf Author

Level 1

5 points

Feb 1, 2023 9:34 AM in response to MrHoffman

Thats the part I dont understand! I had fire vault encryption on and had my own activation lock on. I also put it into lost mode.

I have tried contacting apple about it but they said they couldn't do anything about it because the activation lock team is only contactable by email. I asked them how I could contact them and they said that they couldn't help me with that so im at a bit of a loss. :(

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"We are unable to process your activation lock request at this time."

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