Unable to reinstall macOS on MacBook Air due to Apple ID issue

I was on macos catalina but I wanted to reset everything for more storage so I erased everything like the mac os and tried to reinstall it but it installed yosamite so I tried to update it but it won't let me on my apple id or create one to update it I don't know what to do?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 11:16 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 11:41 AM

Yosemite is so old that you probably won't be able to browse most modern https Web sites, including this forum and including the Apple Support page for downloading old versions of macOS. (The original method of securing https connections turned out to be less secure than believed, and everyone moved away from it.)


I would suggest recovering in two stages:


  1. First, upgrade to El Capitan or Sierra. The installers for these are behind http (no 's') links to .DMG files. You could copy one of the .DMG files, or a bookmark to its location, to a USB flash drive … then transfer that USB flash drive to the old Mac, get and open (mount) the .DMG, and run the installer application.
  2. Once El Capitan or Sierra is running, you can make a backup, then try using the App Store link to get Catalina.


How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 20, 2024 11:41 AM in response to Icouldntthinkofaname

Yosemite is so old that you probably won't be able to browse most modern https Web sites, including this forum and including the Apple Support page for downloading old versions of macOS. (The original method of securing https connections turned out to be less secure than believed, and everyone moved away from it.)


I would suggest recovering in two stages:


  1. First, upgrade to El Capitan or Sierra. The installers for these are behind http (no 's') links to .DMG files. You could copy one of the .DMG files, or a bookmark to its location, to a USB flash drive … then transfer that USB flash drive to the old Mac, get and open (mount) the .DMG, and run the installer application.
  2. Once El Capitan or Sierra is running, you can make a backup, then try using the App Store link to get Catalina.


How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Sep 20, 2024 11:25 AM in response to Icouldntthinkofaname

It's not quite clear to me exactly what is not being permitted, but start with If your Apple Account is locked, not active, or disabled - Apple Support.


Fixing whatever might be wrong with your Apple ID is primary, so whatever is preventing you from reinstalling macOS needs to wait until you fix it first.


On that subject the following may also be applicable: If you can’t create an Apple Account or see “your account cannot be created at this time” - Apple Support

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Unable to reinstall macOS on MacBook Air due to Apple ID issue

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