My macbook is asking for pin lock code (6 digits). I've tried PRAM reset and a screen with a padlock appears with a box to enter a password and an enter icon next to it. All this occurred when I set up iCloud and the macbook restarted. How do I fix this?

Hi,

Normally if a Mac boots to a desktop screen with an option to enter a 4 or 6 digit code, then the machine has been locked by Find My Mac (an iCloud service).

The only way to have this unlocked is either type in the 4 or 6 digit code that was set up on the iCloud webpage when locking the mac or take the machine to an Apple Store or authorized service provider to have them unlock the machine but they will need to verify that your account locked the machine etc.

-Dib.

I spent a great deal of time on this although I was presented with four passcode boxes. I visited two authorised Apple service centres and spoke to around six Senior Support people and each time I was given hope only to have that hope ripped from under me and told the same thing time after time "Sorry, there is nothing we can do" and "It was for my own protection". And they wanted to format my hard drive which would delete all my data. This of course, according to all the Specialists was my fault for not having a back-up.
I was told lies time after time and after about two weeks I decided to try one more time. My MacBook was being held by the Authorised Service Centre and this time I spoke to another Senior Support person from Australia who listened to my tale of woe and promised he would do his best and that he would talk directly with the Service Centre engineers. He couldn't understand why I had been led down this path of complete frustration. A few days later he phoned me and said that my MacBook was ready to collect with all the data intact. If he had been in the same room as me I would have kissed him.
What upset me were the lies and false information given to me by Apple staff and that Apple had bypassed my firewall to activate this security software on my MacBook "For my protection". Anyone else would call it a virus but the Service centre told me that you cannot get viruses on Apple products. I could have sworn that his nose grew after he said that.

Could be. If they had sent the lock request previously, once you turned iCloud on... locked.

It sounds like the Mac has been remotely locked, which is a feature that prevents it from being used if it's been lost or stolen. Either you did it by accident or someone somehow did it to your machine, though they should need your Apple ID info for that. If you don't know the unlock code, your only option is to take it to an Apple store along with proof of purchase.

You may be requiring iCloud Verification -

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3988?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Had you set up an iCloud account on the machine before this happened or was it like this when you received it?

The reason I'm asking is because if it wasn't your iCloud account that locked the machine there isn't much that Apple can do to unlock the machine.

-Dib.

Right... so if the old user for example used an iphone to initiate the lock, once iCloud was back on it locked. You may need the old user's help in unlocking it.

Maybe check the iCloud.com webpage under find my iPhone/Mac and see if your mac is registered on there and what the status of that device is, whether it's locked or not.

If it's not then it may be a BobRz has suggested which is that the old user had sent a lock request to the machine but because a connection to iCloud has been established on the machine the lock request has only just come through.

-Dib

If you can get the previous owner to supply the unlock code, you're ok. Then there's a procedure they should follow when selling a Mac that should prevent this kind of thing.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5189

If your iCloud says it has locked the device that would indicate 'your' account has locked the machine and not someone elses.

Speak to the Genius Bar or an Apple Authorised Service Provider (locate.apple.com) and get them to unlock it for you.

-Dib

Hi BobRZ, I have the same problem also when I made an update to the new Capitan IOS. My computer is 8 years old and it was not an "accident" like you suggest. It's a problem from Apple not from the customers. I went to the Apple Store and they told to give proof of purchase...Right like I'm hanging on with an 8 year old receipt. My computer is not robbed as they implied when they saw me (probably discrimination from their part). I paid this computer which you guys might know it was not cheap. Now is useless! A perfectly good computer is now useless because of some bug you guys made for old computers (my guess to make us buy new ones!) This is unacceptable and I'm sure Mr. Jobs would be pretty annoyed if he heard such accusations! Can you please provide a REAL solution to this problem. I have information in their that is extremely important and obviously I want to be able to use what cost me $2,000. Well I hope you guys come up with a real solution to this problem. Thank you and have great day.

Sincerely,

A Mac Faithful Customer....

I'm sure this is a bug that was created to make people buy new mac laptops. I bought a $2000 dollar computer to have it for a long time. Now is useless, not because it stop working, but because some "genius" that it was good idea to lock our computers. I don't buy the stolen story or the "protection" bull. I bought this computer with my hard earn money 8 years ago. The lock happen right after I installed the new Capitan IOS. So it was not an "accident" like they want me to believe. It happen after an upgrade for the Mac. I am extremely annoyed as you can tell because now I have "erase" everything from my hard drive to reboot it. Which means loosing all my important documents (mostly family photos) for up to 8 years. I really hope they come up with a REAL solution and not some phony story that it might be an "accident" from our parts. This is completely unacceptable.