Error recovering MacBook login password: “There was an error communicating with iCloud”

I forgot my Apple MacBook Pro M2 password yesterday (running on MacOS Sonama) and after multiple tries, I tried to recover using recovery options provided by apple. After following all the steps loging in using my Apple ID.


In the reset password process, after I logged in using my Apple ID, it suddenly shows error “There was an error communicating with iCloud. It happens right after the step where it tries to load FileVault recovery key.


I do have my FileVault recovery key and have all other passwords.


After contacting with Apple support and have a long conversation and they re-tried all the steps, they simply said: “well, you can only remove everything in your mac, we can’t help you more”


I even tried doing it using the terminal, and I can see a bunch of error printing in the terminal. Here I attached screenshot:




Error above clearly indicates:


NSSoftLinking - The Shortcut framework’s library couldn’t be loaded from (null).

The function ‘SCTInitShortcut’ can’t be found in the Shortcut framework.

AOSKit: ERROR: CFBundleCreate failed (AppleAccount)

ERROR: Failed to load AppleAccount


and continues:

Missing ep for BTMM


Any idea? It seems I can’t try more passwords as when I try to enter new passwords it says “Account is locked”.


I can’t simply lose my data, it’s my PhD work/codes, and I don’t have backup. Can I do anything with the FileVault recovery key that I have? I don’t mind reinstall everything, but even reinstalling asks for password, which now seems locked.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.3

Posted on Feb 10, 2024 6:49 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 10, 2024 10:38 AM

It seems like the issue was with my iCloud's "Advanced Data Protection" being turned on.

Thanks to my second attempt contacting Apple support, they suggested to turn it of and it worked.

In my iPhone (can be done in any other Apple device registered with the same Apple ID):


  1. I go to Apple ID setting (Settings > Select my name on top)
  2. Select "iCloud"
  3. Select "Advanced Data Protection"
  4. Select "Turn Off Advanced Data Protection"


Then, I tried the `resetpassword` command again in recovery mode, and this time it worked perfectly fine without showing any errors! Phew...

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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 10, 2024 10:38 AM in response to michelkogan

It seems like the issue was with my iCloud's "Advanced Data Protection" being turned on.

Thanks to my second attempt contacting Apple support, they suggested to turn it of and it worked.

In my iPhone (can be done in any other Apple device registered with the same Apple ID):


  1. I go to Apple ID setting (Settings > Select my name on top)
  2. Select "iCloud"
  3. Select "Advanced Data Protection"
  4. Select "Turn Off Advanced Data Protection"


Then, I tried the `resetpassword` command again in recovery mode, and this time it worked perfectly fine without showing any errors! Phew...

Feb 10, 2024 9:55 AM in response to chdsl

The problem is that it seems my computer tries to load recovery key from my icloud account. But in reality, I didn't set the recovery key in the icloud. Instead, I set it up manually and I just don't understand why it tries to load FileVault recovery key from the icloud. I tried the same procedure with my wife's laptop and I could see the next step must be asking to enter FileVault recovery key, but in my case, it tries to load it from icloud, where there is no recovery key stored there.


If I find a way to let BTMM asks for recovery key from a prompt instead of loading from icloud,it will work


Anyone has any ideas how to let BTMM tries unlocking with my recovery key instead of loading from iCloud?

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Error recovering MacBook login password: “There was an error communicating with iCloud”

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