If you’ve found a lost Macbook, this guide will show you how to unlock and clear a stolen Macbook pro. The MacBook is one of the most popular laptops in the world nowadays.
Used by professionals, students, and designers alike, it has become the standard tool for people who need fast and efficient computing, along with access to a wide range of enhanced features.
Iphone software, free download for pc. On top of that, Apple constantly releases new updates and features that are rolled over the air, allowing users to remain up to date with the latest security features and get maximum protection.
However, Macbooks aren’t inexpensive. When you compare them with other laptops on the market, you will realize that the prices are considerably higher, and as a result of that, the Macbook is one of the hottest stolen properties on the market.
Thank you dan but that is not helpful, mac air boots to the login screen but password not accepted, when I boot to recovery mode and click on info tells me the drive is locked. I can unlock the drive and see all correct info about drive and files etc but when I reboot laptop back to square 1. Locking a MacBook Pro: What you will need, and how to do it. The 2012 revision of the MacBook Pro removed the Kensington Security Slot – used for compatible cable locks – that had existed on the previous editions. Not to worry, though, as there are still good options available for securing a MacBook Pro. Apple's line of laptops for professional and power users. To date the MacBook Pro line includes 13, 15, 16, and 17-inch variants, with major revisions defined by unibody, Retina display, and Touch Bar designs.
Option 2: Use Recovery Mode To Reset Forgotten Macbook Password. Again, if FileVault encryption isn’t enabled on your Mac, you can use Recovery Mode to reset any password on your Macbook’s user account. Here’s what you need to do: You need to first restart your Macbook pro and then immediately hold down command + R until the Apple logo. Recently I bought a used Macbook air but it was locked. The seller was not reached by phone or email. So I tried to factory reset or re-install the OS but all failed due to various reasons. I called Apple care, but they seem to misunderstand my question and tried to reset the password of 'my' Apple ID which is totally irrelevant.
If you aren’t careful and leave your Macbook unattended, there is a strong risk that your device will be stolen by someone. For instance, if you leave your laptop in a bag and then leave the bag unattended in a public place, there’s a strong chance that it will be stolen.
A considerable number of thefts occur due to people leaving their laptops in their cars. If a thief sees a laptop on the backseat with nobody in sight, what do you think he or she is going to do?
Unfortunately, this is all too real, and happens quite frequently. Each day, thousands of complaints are launched in police stations reporting stolen Macbooks. Most people aren’t as concerned with the loss of the device as they are with the loss of data.
Important work files, assignments, or family photos and other personal documents might be stored on the hard drive, so if you lose all of that, it’s obviously going to be difficult for you to recover everything. Moreover, would you really want to give access to all of your data to a thief?
Thankfully, Apple has released a wide range of security features that are designed to help an average person track their laptop, or remotely get rid of all the data so that someone else cannot access it. If your Macbook is stolen or lost, here’s what you need to do.
![Pro Pro](https://support.apple.com/library/content/dam/edam/applecare/images/pl_PL/icloud/ios11-find-my-iphone-ipad-watch-activiation-lock-hero.jpg)
How To Find Or Track A Stolen Macbook Pro
One of the best applications that Apple has released within the past few years and has reworked dramatically is the Find My app. The Find My app allows you to locate all of your Apple devices and can be used to locate your computer.
The application can be opened on any device or any other computer; you just need to login with your Apple ID. You can even use it from your iPhone if you want. Just search for the device, and if your computer is open, you will be able to see it.
You will also get a range of additional features, such as marking your computer on a map, allowing you to lock it remotely. On top of that, you can also send in a custom message on the screen to let a person know if it’s a stolen Macbook or not.
How Do You Reset A Locked Macbook Pro Mac
In some cases, this might work, and you will get your Macbook back. However, if a thief stole it, the chances of you getting it back through a remote message are very low.
How To Clear or Wipe A Stolen Macbook Pro Remotely Using iCloud
Now, another situation that might arise is that your Mac may not show up in the Find My app at all, and that’s because it might be locked or completely offline.
If that’s the case, you should know that you can request a notification so that you get a message when your Mac is powered on, and you can also erase all the data on your computer, or lock it remotely if you prefer.
Just make sure that you do not remove the Mac from the list of devices on the Find My app before it is powered on, otherwise the instructions are never going to make it, and the actions will not take effect.
If your Macbook pro is stolen and you want to wipe it remotely, here’s the procedure you need to follow:
First, open a web browser such as mozilla firefox, safari or google chrome and go to the icloud website.
You then log into your icloud account using your Apple ID and password.
You’ll see the Find iPhone icon, click on it.
At the top of the screen, click on All Devices.
Then you need to select the Macbook that you want to wipe.
Then click Erase Mac in the device’s info window.
Finally, enter your Apple ID Password to confirm.
It’s important to note that when your Mac is online again, all your files and data will be deleted if you proceeded with the process of wiping your stolen Macbook pro.
However, if you wiped your Mac when it was offline but somehow managed to find it before being connected to the internet again, then you can cancel the initial erase request using the following procedure:
Go back to the iCloud website and then log in using your Apple ID and Password.
Click on All Devices at the top of your screen.
In the devices list, choose and click on the device you had initially selected to erase.
Finally, click on Stop Erase Request and then confirm the cancellation process.
How to Unlock A Stolen Macbook Pro
If you have managed to recover your Macbook from the thieves, you can unlock it as well. The first course of action if your Macbook gets stolen is to immediately lock it remotely.
This way, nobody will be able to access it. Apple has beefed up security by a considerable margin, and if your Macbook is locked in remotely, nobody can access it but you.
After you have located your Macbook, you can unlock it with a passcode that you can get from icloud.com. Remember, your device passcode isn’t going to work anymore; you will want to make use of the passcode that you created when you locked it with the Find My passcode app.
First, sign into the icloud.com/find and then search for your Mac on the Devices menu. Once you find it, all you have to do is click on the Unlock option.
You will be prompted to add in the passcode that you received earlier, and you will also have to follow a series of steps to verify your identity. Once you do that, your Macbook will be unlocked and you can use it again.
How to Unlock MacBook Pro without Password 2020
If you forgot your Macbook pro password and you desperately need to log into your device to access important files or data, then there’s no need to panic!
If you didn’t know, Apple has built-in tools that can be used to reset the forgotten login password and therefore allowing you to log in to your Apple device again.
Below are the tools and steps you can use to unlock your Macbook via Recovery Mode, “Reset Password” and Apple ID.
Option 1: Using Your Apple ID to Reset Mac Login Password
If FileVault encryption is not enabled on your Mac, it means that you associated your user account with your Apple ID. In this case, you can use your Apple ID to reset your password depending on the MacOS version you’re using. Here’s the procedure:
In the login screen, select your user account, then click on the question mark icon in the password field and then click the arrow next to “reset it using your Apple ID”.
Next, enter an Apple ID and a password and click next.
You’ll be told to create a new password and also provide a hint.
NOTE: Onecast 1 13. If you try 3 times and don’t see the message for resetting your password using Apple ID, then it means your account wasn’t setup to allow resetting with Apple ID.
Also, if you totally forgot your Apple ID and password, you can use the Apple ID account website to find it. Just go to the Apple ID account website, click on “Forgot Apple ID or Password?” and then follow the instructions given on the screen.
Option 2: Use Recovery Mode To Reset Forgotten Macbook Password
Again, if FileVault encryption isn’t enabled on your Mac, you can use Recovery Mode to reset any password on your Macbook’s user account. Here’s what you need to do:
You need to first restart your Macbook pro and then immediately hold down command + R until the Apple logo appears.
Select Disk Utility and then click Continue. Click Utilities > Terminal
Using lowercase letters and one word, enter resetpassword and then press Enter.
The password reset tool will launch and enable you to change the passwords of any non-encrypted accounts.
Finally, enter a new password and also re-enter the password in the verification field and then add a password hint.
Option 3: Resetting your Login Password Using The Recovery Key
This process requires you to have the FileVault encryption enabled and a recovery key created on your Mac. The recovery key can then be used to reset your login password using the steps below:
Press your Mac’s power button and then click Restart or go to Apple Menu > Restart.
After selecting your user account, click on the question mark icon in the password field and then click the arrow next to “reset it using your recovery key.”
You then need to enter the recovery key you initially created when enabling FileVault encryption, then click Next. Follow the on screen instructions and reset your password.
Conclusion
There is also the possibility that you won’t be able to locate your Macbook at all. However, you should know that the Find My service is the only service that can help you locate your Apple devices.
If you didn’t set it up, or weren’t able to detect your laptop, you need to take a few steps to protect your data. You need to change your Apple ID password right away, and then change your passwords for all your social media networks and accounts as quickly as possible.
If you had saved passwords on your Mac, all of your data might be compromised, so you have to be careful. Then, you should report your stolen laptop to the local law enforcement and give them complete information so that they can try and locate it.
Reinstall from macOS Recovery
macOS Recovery makes it easy to reinstall the Mac operating system, even if you need to erase your startup disk first. All you need is a connection to the Internet. If a wireless network is available, you can choose it from the Wi-Fi menu , which is also available in macOS Recovery.
1. Start up from macOS Recovery
To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following sets of keys on your keyboard. Release the keys when you see an Apple logo, spinning globe, or other startup screen.
Command (⌘)-R
Reinstall the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac (recommended).
Option-⌘-R
Upgrade to the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
Shift-Option-⌘-R
Reinstall the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.
You might be prompted to enter a password, such as a firmware password or the password of a user who is an administrator of this Mac. Enter the requested password to continue.
How Do You Reset A Locked Macbook Pro Shortcut
When you see the utilities window, you have started up from macOS Recovery.
2. Decide whether to erase (format) your disk
You probably don't need to erase, unless you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, or you have an issue that requires you to erase. If you need to erase before installing macOS, select Disk Utility from the Utilities window, then click Continue. Learn more about when and how to erase.
3. Install macOS
When you're ready to reinstall macOS, choose Reinstall macOS from the Utilities window. Then click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions. You will be asked to choose a disk on which to install.
- If the installer asks to unlock your disk, enter the password you use to log in to your Mac.
- If the installer doesn't see your disk, or it says that it can't install on your computer or volume, you might need to erase your disk first.
- If the installer is for a different version of macOS than you expected, learn about macOS Recovery exceptions.
- If the installer offers you the choice between installing on Macintosh HD or Macintosh HD - Data, choose Macintosh HD.
Please allow installation to complete without putting your Mac to sleep or closing its lid. During installation, your Mac might restart and show a progress bar several times, and the screen might be empty for minutes at a time.
If your Mac restarts to a setup assistant, but you're selling, trading in, or giving away your Mac, press Command-Q to quit the assistant without completing setup. Then click Shut Down. When the new owner starts up the Mac, they can use their own information to complete setup.
macOS Recovery exceptions
The version of macOS offered by macOS Recovery might vary in some cases:
- If macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later has never been installed on this Mac, Option-Command-R installs the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. And Shift-Option-Command-R isn't available.
- If you erased your entire disk instead of just the startup volume on that disk, macOS Recovery might offer only the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available. You can upgrade to a later version afterward.
- If your Mac has the Apple T2 Security Chip and you never installed a macOS update, Option-Command-R installs the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.
- If you just had your Mac logic board replaced during a repair, macOS Recovery might offer only the latest macOS that is compatible with your Mac.
If you can't get macOS Recovery to offer the installer you want, you might be able to use one of the other ways to install macOS.
Other ways to install macOS
- You can also install macOS from the App Store or Software Update preferences. If you can't install macOS Catalina, you might be able to install an earlier macOS, such as macOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or Yosemite.
- Or create a bootable installer disk, then use that disk to install macOS on your Mac or another Mac.