I don't have the Apple ID or password to unlock MacBook Pro

The question is whether this laptop has a firmware password lock or an Activation lock enabled. If either one is active, then there is absolutely nothing you can do to fix it.

If this laptop automatically logs into the macOS user account and you see the previous owner's AppleID, then you should just be able to create a bootable macOS 10.13 USB installer using the instructions in this Apple article:

Create a bootable installer - Apple Support

When you boot to the macOS 10.13 USB installer, you will need to launch Disk Utility so you can erase the whole physical SSD as GUID partition and MacOS Extended (Journaled). Name the volume "Macintosh HD" without the double quotes. Within Disk Utility you will need to click "View" and select "Show All Devices" before the physical SSD appears on the left pane of Disk Utility. Quit Disk Utility and select the "Install macOS High Sierra" option.

Once you have macOS 10.13 installed, then you should upgrade to macOS 12.x Monterey. You can find links to various macOS installers within the following Apple article:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

I did not have you install a later version of macOS since it may be necessary to first install macOS 10.13 since it introduced a lot of new changes including updated firmware.

FYI, you should always perform a clean install of the OS whenever you acquire a used device so that you know you have a factory fresh OS installed and all of the previous owner's stuff has been deleted & destroyed since you don't know what nasty surprises may have been lingering in the old OS. Plus a clean install will alert you to whether a used Mac has a firmware password lock enabled or whether the Mac is still being managed by a previous owner....neither of which you can do anything about, but best to know if this is the case.

If you are unable to log into the macOS user account, then you can still perform a clean install of macOS, but it will be more difficult unless you have access to another compatible Mac which you can use to create a bootable macOS USB installer. Generally a compatible Mac for a 2015 model will be a Mac from 2007 to 2018. If this is the case, then let us know as we can provide some options & instructions.

If you are unable to log into this Mac and you don't have access to another compatible Mac....and there is no firmware lock or activation lock, then you can try booting into Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R to try to perform a clean install of macOS 10.10 Yosemite. Using this method to access Recovery Mode should not require authenticating with an AppleID, however, I'm doubtful you will be able to reinstall macOS this way since there have been numerous reports on this forum for several months now that Apple may have disabled the online macOS installers.....that is when you select "Install macOS Yosemite" option in Recovery Mode you may encounter an error something like "unable to contact recovery server". More than likely you would need to change the system date to 2017 as well since the security certificates for the online installers have expired.

If you can boot into a macOS admin user account on this Mac, then make sure to create a bootable macOS 10.13 USB installer now while you still can before you try to erase this laptop since once you erase the laptop, you will lose this option unless you have access to another compatible Mac.

Activation lock will always lock the device to the original owner until it has been erased using their credentials. If the original owner is not able to reset the password or provide original receipt for them to reset the device to factory settings, then most likely the device will not be able to be used. That is the same scenario as a stolen device where you have no access to the original owners credentials and the process to reset it is the same no matter what the reason is for not having those credentials. The only exception is when a family member dies, Apple has steps to take that include providing identification and court records/death certificate to have the device unlocked.

You should go into this with the expectation that the device will not be usable and if Apple is able to help, then they have gone far above what is expected for Customer Service.

HWTech wrote:

The question is whether this laptop has a firmware password lock or an Activation lock enabled. If either one is active, then there is absolutely nothing you can do to fix it.

If this is a mid-2015 MacBook Pro, I don't believe it will have Activation Lock. Activation Lock for Mac apparently requires a Mac with an Apple Silicon processor or a T2 security chip, and I do not believe that particular Mac has either.

Activation Lock for Mac - Apple Support

Mac computers with the Apple T2 Security Chip - Apple Support

There still could be a firmware password lock.

Nogoatthisstation wrote:

I don't have the apple ID or password

I purchased the macbookpro from an 89 year old man he has memory loss and can't recall his credentials nor can he locate the original payment method the device is a mackbookpro A1398 mid 2015 and runs Yosemite what can be done now did I run around in the circles trying to get the information that **** Apple wanted me to get and send me on two different appointments to get this issue resolved at two different Apple stores in Houston Texas and they all tell me the same thing I need to get a hold of Apple support and go to the process again have IQ suddenly dropped it apple as customer service totally disappeared seems like it thanks a lot Apple what are my options now

[Edited by Moderator]

?

It seems your options have already been presented.

Nothing can be done here in the user to user support community.

I would question the "I purchased the macbookpro" a 2015 with no credentials or access. It certainly was not properly prepared for resale. Hopefully you did not pay a lot for it.

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Note that according to MacTracker, the 15-inch Retina MBPs from Mid 2012, Early 2013, Late 2013, Mid 2014, and Mid 2015 all shared the model number A1398.