User profile for user: LuisCBU
LuisCBU Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Apple ID Password Not Accepted during macOS Sequoia 15.6 Update

Hello, I'm trying to update to macOS Sequoia 15.6 on my MacBook Air (Apple M2), but it's asking me to enter my Apple ID password. However, when I enter the password, it’s not being accepted. At first, I thought I might have forgotten it, but I confirmed that the password is correct. I even changed it to a new one, but the issue persists. I can log in to my iPhone without any problems—the issue only occurs when trying to update on my MacBook Air.

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Aug 5, 2025 9:19 AM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,490 points

Posted on Aug 5, 2025 9:41 AM

Ok, here are a few things you can try. Stop at any step that resolves the issue:

  • First, double-check that you do NOT have CAPS LOCK enabled. This is easy to overlook and often is the source of the issue.
  • Next, completely shutdown your Mac, and then, boot it back up.
  • Next check the Mac's Date & Time Settings. Incorrect system date/time can cause SSL certs to be rejected during Apple Account auth. Ensure Set date and time automatically is enabled.
  • Next, sign out of your iCloud account temporaily.
    • Go to System Settings > [your Apple Account] > iCloud, then scroll down and choose Sign Out. You’ll be prompted about keeping copies of iCloud data locally—just keep a copy of everything for now.
    • Sign back into iCloud and test the Apple Account prompt again. Sometimes this resets the local token that the update mechanism uses.
  • Next, boot up your Mac in Safe Mode. Ref: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support:
  • Finally, try updating via the Terminal app: Open Terminal and run:
    • sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.6
    • sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall


If you’ve exhausted the above and it still refuses to accept the Apple Account password, a clean install via macOS Recovery may be necessary.

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
158,490 points

Aug 5, 2025 9:41 AM in response to LuisCBU

Ok, here are a few things you can try. Stop at any step that resolves the issue:

  • First, double-check that you do NOT have CAPS LOCK enabled. This is easy to overlook and often is the source of the issue.
  • Next, completely shutdown your Mac, and then, boot it back up.
  • Next check the Mac's Date & Time Settings. Incorrect system date/time can cause SSL certs to be rejected during Apple Account auth. Ensure Set date and time automatically is enabled.
  • Next, sign out of your iCloud account temporaily.
    • Go to System Settings > [your Apple Account] > iCloud, then scroll down and choose Sign Out. You’ll be prompted about keeping copies of iCloud data locally—just keep a copy of everything for now.
    • Sign back into iCloud and test the Apple Account prompt again. Sometimes this resets the local token that the update mechanism uses.
  • Next, boot up your Mac in Safe Mode. Ref: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support:
  • Finally, try updating via the Terminal app: Open Terminal and run:
    • sudo softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 15.6
    • sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sequoia.app/Contents/Resources/startosinstall


If you’ve exhausted the above and it still refuses to accept the Apple Account password, a clean install via macOS Recovery may be necessary.

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User profile for user: LuisCBU
LuisCBU Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 6, 2025 10:41 AM in response to Tesserax

Thank you very much for your response. I was definitely making a silly mistake, and I'm sharing it in case someone else is experiencing the same issue. I was entering my Apple ID password instead of my MacBook's password. For some reason, I didn’t realize that the system was asking for the device password and assumed it was requesting my Apple ID credentials.

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User profile for user: JoelAndoetoe
JoelAndoetoe
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 25, 2025 6:18 AM in response to LuisCBU

I have been having this issue consistently since Sequoia (15.x) whenever there is an upgrade. What I finally figured out is that for the installation and subsequent logon, it reverts back to 2 or 3 previous passwords ago. Using the old password, it allows me to install the update and logon. After logon, it will prompt to update the KeyChain password - use the old password there too. After that, it does a quick log off and the current (normal) password works again.


Thankfully, I have 1Password which remembers my password history, but this is still quite insane.

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Apple ID Password Not Accepted during macOS Sequoia 15.6 Update

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