Unsupported Apple ID prevents software reinstallation on MacBook

MacOS is not copy-protected in the usual sense:

Apple software downloaded from the Mac App Store, including MacOS, is not copy protected. However, it IS tagged with the Apple-ID of the purchaser when "purchased" (or equivalent — Think of MacOS as purchased on sale for $0.) A valid Apple-ID is required at some point in the process for completing installation of almost all downloads from the Mac App Store.

You cannot update, upgrade, or install new software based on already-installed software UNLESS your Mac supplies the Apple-ID used for the original software.

If your old MacOS is badly damaged, or you completely erased your Mac, the Apple-ID is not available, and you get the “cannot contact the server…” message that should go on to say, “…with the Apple-ID provided or NO Apple-ID”.

In that case, you can try invoking Recovery with:

Shift-Option-Command-R

You are requesting the "shipped-in-the-box" version, which will be tagged ONLY with the serial number of your Mac, and does not require any Apple-ID to be already working on your Mac.

Where do you encounter this AppleID issue?

Is the old AppleID still associated with this laptop such as still having FindMy enabled with that AppleID for this laptop? Such as booting into Recovery Mode and being asked to authenticate before you see any of the installer's utility options?

Or do you encounter the AppleID issue only after selecting the "Reinstall macOS" option?

For the former issue, there may be nothing you can do if the old AppleID is still associated with the hardware and FindMy. Perhaps a DFU Firmware Restore would get around this since it resets the T2 security chip, system firmware, and internal SSD (I doubt this will work as it will likely ask to authenticate afterwards), or you may need to provide Apple with acceptable proof of purchase & personal ID to confirm you are the original owner so they can unlock the laptop (most likely will need to go to an Apple Store or an AASP). Otherwise this laptop will be a brick unless you can provide the password or be able to reset the AppleID password.

If you only encounter the AppleID authentication after selecting "Reinstall macOS", then try booting into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R.

You seem to have contradictory statements above:

• ”2018 MacBook that I completely wiped for my granddaughter.” Good! That was the right thing to do. Hopefully you did it as follows: What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
• ”Old Apple Account won’t let me install any software.” That is also good! It’s now your granddaughter’s Mac. She has her own Apple Account. Your software absolutely does not belong on her machine.

sberman wrote:

You seem to have contradictory statements above:

”2018 MacBook that I completely wiped for my granddaughter.” Good! That was the right thing to do. Hopefully you did it as follows: • What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

”Old Apple Account won’t let me install any software.” • That is also good! It’s now your granddaughter’s Mac. She has her own Apple Account. Your software absolutely does not belong on her machine.

That's generally true. However Apple does permit Family Sharing, where purchases from one Apple account can be shared on multiple computers even when each of those computers has its own Apple account. Also certain other purchases can be used on multiple computers, such as purchased music, in which case one is prompted to enter the Apple account and password to authenticate for that music.