I just got a new MacBook Pro and I have completed the transfer of files/folders from the old MacBook Pro. When I attempt to erase my data from the old MacBook Pro using Erase Assistant, it's using an older userID. How do I erase my data when I have since changed my password. Is there a workaround?
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)
<< How do I erase my data when I have since changed my password. >>
You keep saying Apple-ID. But I think the account information required to ERASE a computer is NOT Apple-ID but local Admin login username.
The admin username is created when you first set up your computer, and is stored completely local to that computer. it is never even Known to your Apple-ID account.
On the old computer, the admin username and password are EXACTLY as you left them when you last used that computer. They are not connected through or updated by your Apple-ID. if you created an identical new username on the new computer, it is only identical in YOUR eyes. The new computer sees every username it has as local, and unique. it does not care if you gave it the same name as the username on another computer you own. The new computer user that may accidentally have the same name is NOT identical.
The new computer has no way of reaching back to the old computer and updating a User login password. And why would it even try -- as far as the new computer is concerned, the new user is unique in the world.
This holds true even if you created the new Username and/or password by specifying it in Migration Assistant/Setup Assistant. Migration assistant/setup assistant DO NOT modify the original computer or any files or passwords on it in any way.
So to erase the old drive, use the old Admin login, and the old password that you last entered on the old computer, and ignore the fact that you created a user with the same name but a different password on a different computer. User names and passwords are LOCAL to the computer.
<< How do I erase my data when I have since changed my password. >>
You keep saying Apple-ID. But I think the account information required to ERASE a computer is NOT Apple-ID but local Admin login username.
The admin username is created when you first set up your computer, and is stored completely local to that computer. it is never even Known to your Apple-ID account.
On the old computer, the admin username and password are EXACTLY as you left them when you last used that computer. They are not connected through or updated by your Apple-ID. if you created an identical new username on the new computer, it is only identical in YOUR eyes. The new computer sees every username it has as local, and unique. it does not care if you gave it the same name as the username on another computer you own. The new computer user that may accidentally have the same name is NOT identical.
The new computer has no way of reaching back to the old computer and updating a User login password. And why would it even try -- as far as the new computer is concerned, the new user is unique in the world.
This holds true even if you created the new Username and/or password by specifying it in Migration Assistant/Setup Assistant. Migration assistant/setup assistant DO NOT modify the original computer or any files or passwords on it in any way.
So to erase the old drive, use the old Admin login, and the old password that you last entered on the old computer, and ignore the fact that you created a user with the same name but a different password on a different computer. User names and passwords are LOCAL to the computer.
Thanks Grant for the quick response. I was mistaken when I referred to Erase Assistant. The problem was with Find My, which prompts you to enter your Apple account password. I was able to turn this feature off through System Settings and then I proceeded to finish the erase process.
For completeness (for Readers who may get here by searching):
There is only ONE Apple-ID (for most users) and its password can ONLY be verified online.
So 'which password' for operations that require the Apple-ID is the reverse of what I described above. Apple-ID password is always the last one set (by any method) because your Mac does NOT store it, but always verifies it online.
Another potential complication is that if you cannot get online, you cannot verify your Apple-ID password.
Erasing MacBook Pro displays wrong Apple ID
