Hey everyone, I'm in a tough spot with my 2021 MacBook Pro M1 and I'm hoping someone can help me. My MacBook became deactivated after I tried to reset the admin password. Before that, it was acting weird, claiming my password was wrong even though it was correct, and I'm the only admin. Now, when I try to boot it up, it goes straight into macOS Recovery but doesn't show any user accounts on the "Select a user to recover the system" screen, preventing me from activating it. I know my Apple ID and password, but I can't access them because the Activation Lock isn't prompting me either. I've tried to access some hidden files and managed to see my data, but I'm unable to copy it to an external drive or use Terminal. It feels like the system is stuck in a corrupted state, and I'm worried about losing my data. I'm looking for any tips on how to trigger the iCloud Activation Lock prompt, bypass this activation/setup bug, or recover my data without erasing the disk. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like you're really in a bind. Have you tried running a macOS reinstall from recovery mode? This might help fix the corrupted setup without erasing your data. Just remember to choose the option to keep your files intact during the reinstall process.
I get that this is frustrating, but since your disk is still mounted, you might want to try using Target Disk Mode if you have access to another Mac. Connect them with a Thunderbolt cable, boot your MacBook while holding down the "T" key, and see if it lets you transfer files directly.
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