Find My and Firmware Lock are 2 different things. Doing Find My shouldn't enable a Firmware Lock

​@@EasyOSXunless it's in lost mode .or erase

@@kellymendez I definitely accidentally put it into lost mode but it still prompted me to input the 6 digit code but when I go to the computer that's not an option

@@EasyOSX yea I put it into lost mode with the 6 digit code but it's not giving me an option to put in a 6 digit code

I fixed mine .I remembered the firmware password

Happy to help! iOS is pretty locked down, partially because the memory chip and board are basically one and the same (oversimplified of course). But whenever the phone is off the phone is automatically encrypted. So the one thing you could do to improve it on the phone itself would be to set a long alphanumeric password as your iPhone’s password. (Edited)

I wasn’t aware it would do that.

Either is fine, but I’d say reboot is probably easiest.

Glad I was able to help!

I would try a few variations of that password first. Some newer Macs will let you get around it with your Apple account, but if neither of those options work, you may need to take it into Apple

Mine is a 2015 MacBook Pro, meaning it doesn't have those Full Security and Reduced in the T2 chips

Oh my, that is a problem. If you don’t know the firmware password anymore, the machine might be locked. There are 2 ways to get around it. If you can take it to Apple or an authorized Apple service provider, they may be able to help you reset it. That said, you might have to provide proof of ownership in some way (prevents someone from stealing a Mac and then having Apple reset the machine and help them get away with a crime? That said, if you have a Mac where you can reset or replace the RAM inside, then you may be able to reset it yourself. However, that is completely dependent on your model machine and if you’re messing with the internals of the machine without being careful, you could turn it into a brick.

Hey Samuel, so you’re in the recovery mode but don’t see Utilities at the top? What version of Mac OS are you running?

Happy to help!

Hey Truth Seeker, that is a good question. Yes the longer your password the more secure it generally is. But of course it doesn’t help us if we can’t login or use it. A good login password can help with some remote attacks in the event someone is able to get remote access into your machine and tries to install a virus, but that will be harder to install those things if the password is longer. However the password is more effective against local attacks than remote attacks. You should still have a secure password regardless, but be aware of that. But good security is in layers, never just depend on one thing. As far as remote attacks, yes have a good password. If you want to me more protected against those, I do have a few recommendations. 1: Apply your updates and security patches to your Mac soon after they come out. Patches fix your machine, but attackers also reverse engineer them to figure out where the security flaws are that are being patch, and may try to take advantage of them. This is true of Mac, Windows, Android, and every other platforms. 1.5: Update your browsers and other apps too. Those are both another layer of security and weakness depending on your use and updates. 2: Turn on your Firewall. That’s located in the same are of System Preferences as FileVault (which I also recommend, but that is also more for hindering local attacks than remote attacks). This will help prevent limit attacks against your networking. 2.5: Also update your router in your home if you control that. Your internet provider may control that, but if you have your own router, then make sure to do that. 3: Monitor what you do. All the security updates in the world can only do so much against your own use. Not commenting on anything you specifically do because I don’t know you. That said, be careful about what websites you go to, making sure they’re run by legitimate or reputable owners, what info you put out online, and what you click on on those websites. You might also want to use extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger to help prevent malicious ads or site from loading in your browser and causing issues. Likewise if you get links in things like your email or message services, be wary of clicking on them if you don’t recognize the sender, if it seems urgent, and/or you weren’t expecting it. I can try to lay out some more guidelines and suggestions, but updating your OS, updating your browsers and other apps, be careful of what you do online and what links you click on are the most important things.

Unfortunately your only recourse is to go to Apple. With that generation onward it's a "Fail-Secure" setup.

Unfortunately the only way to remove a firmware password is to have the firmware password. On older Macs you could remove the logic board battery and reset it that way, but that hasn't been the case on modern Macs for a while. You may have to take it into Apple. Sorry.

hi. how can i go back from there to normal screen if i dont have the firmeware password @@EasyOSX

If you mean the login screen it should just boot normally when you turn it on without any button presses

No it wouldn’t. The firmware password only prevents users from getting to Recovery Mode or accessing a boot drive other than the internal hard drive.

Unfortunately there isn’t an easy way. Some older models can have the motherboard battery removed to reset it, but you may just need to take it into Apple.

Hi Yunqi, that is a very unusual problem, and usually requires a reinstall of the OS. That said, we can try a few things. First, can you try Internet recovery mode. Hold “Option”, “Command”, and “R” on the keyboard and then try the same process again

Hey Hamoud, what problem are you getting stuck at with trying to remove the firmware password?

Hey Madara, is it asking for your own password or perhaps someone else’s? Do you have multiple accounts on the machine?

Have you tried a variation of the password?

@@EasyOSX yes, but I know what password I used because it’s a simple one. 😕still nothing.

And your Mac is running the latest version of its OS? Apple releases firmware updates in those as well

@@EasyOSX I did have the newest beta , but I did a full swipe so that I can have a clean start😂so I’m taking my Macbook to delete this firmware password…

Ouch. Any chance you added an extra keystroke while typing or had Caps Lock on when putting it in?

Hey Nithin. Normally firmware password should only appear when you try to go into something like recovery mode or boot off external media. If the machine is always showing the firmware lock either the hard drive is defective or somehow it was set to boot to the recovery partition. Here’s something to try. Turn off the machine, hold down the Option key, and then boot up the machine and keep holding Option. See if you get the lock or the hard drive icon

mi to

Unfortunately I don’t, assuming you are only referring to the firmware password. Your best option might be to take it to an Apple store. Sorry

Hey Nikhil, there is a way to clear or reset the firmware password via the Terminal provided you know what the current firmware password is. Do you know your current firmware password?

@@EasyOSX no :-( a week ago indidnt even know such a thing even existed :-(

Did you happen to buy this off someone?

@@EasyOSX nops using it for 5 years .. bought off apple .... I think the problem has begun after the last update ....

That’s unfortunate. You may have to contact Apple, but let’s try something. If you can open the Terminal app and run the command below (and enter your admin password to run the script. It should tell you whether a password is set. I know it sounds weird, but something to check if its a glitch or not. sudo firmwarepasswd -check

Is it just the lock or is there a password box as well?

@@EasyOSX I have this same problem and there is a password box too

Hey Mike. Is this a used Mac?

@@EasyOSX there is a password box. And it's a used mac air 2017 code A1466. The condition still as it is till now. Please help me out, thankss

Hey Anky. If it’s a used MacBook, then it’s probably the password of whoever previously used it. There’s not a good way to break that on those model machines, so you might consider taking it to Apple, demonstrate that you purchased it, and see if they’ll unlock it for you

So you shutdown the machine, hold down Cmd-R and turn on the machine while holding down that and it still doesn’t work? Does it happen with the other command key too

@@EasyOSX it does yeah, probably just gonna give it back to my school so they can fix it since it's my School mac

Oh yeah you need to do that, they probably have rules in place to prevent that stuff. And if they don’t they should

@@EasyOSX yes, and they fixed my mac :)

I’m glad to hear!

You are right about that. Given Apple has made them more like iOS devices it makes sense that they’ve linked it to Filevault’s disk encryption and user authentication ala iOS’s overall encryption behind iCloud.

@@EasyOSX So with Apple Silicon there is no chance, that someone can remove macos and make it like new laptop?

Hey Antony! I’m not going to say no chance because nothing is ever perfectly secure. Plus I know the Linux community is already working to get Linux running of Apple Silicon Macs. That said, it is definitely a lot harder to bypass it compared to doing so on the Intel Macs. Provided you have signed into your Apple account in your Mac’s system settings, now if anyone tries to wipe it they will have to get past your iCloud login. Theoretically even if they could wipe it, that Apple login would still be in the Secure Enclave, and they would be prompted to log into that before they could re-install Mac OS.

@@EasyOSX Great!

Happy to help!

If you mean the firmware password and you’ve forgotten it, then you might need to take it into an Apple Store and see if they can reset the board or assist you

Hey Ahmd, are you trying to boot into recovery mode and getting that message or somewhere else? Also did you buy your MacBook used

Hey Isabella, is this an M1 Mac or an older Intel Mac? Also what version of Mac OS is it running?

@@EasyOSX this is 2017 MacBook Pro and it’s updated to the latest os

Oh well that’s why. The first MacBooks with the T2 chip were released in 2018. Your Mac doesn’t have a T2 chip, and won’t have that setting to enable or disable external disks. The good news is that all you should have to do is plug in the external drive, turn off the machine, and then hold down the option key as you’re rebooting the Mac to boot off the external drive (assuming it has been set up correctly)

@@EasyOSX oh thanks

No problem. If you do have any problems don’t be afraid to let me know.

Hey Alvin. What particularly is your issue? Are you locked out of your machine or the firmware?

Unfortunately you probably will have to reach out to Apple on that one. Sorry

@EasyOSX Thank you for your reply 🙏

Sorry I couldn't be of more help

@@EasyOSX It's Okay 👍

Happy to help!

Hey Peter, are you using an M1 Mac or an Intel Mac? If you’re using an M1 Mac you have to access Recovery Mode through a different method (though I’ll note you can’t do this Firmware Password on an M1 Mac)

@@EasyOSX tbh I don’t really know the difference, it’s a MacBook Air that’s all I know

How recently did you get it? Another way to check would be to put the Serial Number into checkcoverage.Apple.com which will tell you what model it is (ex: 2020 MacBook Air). The serial number should be located on the bottom of your laptop near the hinge and be a string of 12-16 letter and numbers.

@@EasyOSX it says early 2015

Ok so it’s not an M1. Have you tried using the Command key on the left or right side of the keyboard when holding down R, and have you tried switching which one you’re holding? Let me ask this, why do you need to get into Recovery Mode? What’s going on?

It might be possible if you have that, but admittedly it's a bit beyond me at the moment. You might need to take it to Apple. Alternatively if you could image the hard drive from another computer then you could perhaps you could still boot up and use the machine without needing to mess with the firmware.

Ik if it’s gonna be possible to get in but if you know can you please reply thank you

How can he discover the password without having to go to Apple or something like that

If he got the Mac from his school, then they probably locked it down to the school so people couldn’t mess with it or reset it. If this is in error, like if the school sold it to him, then he should take it back to the school and have them fix it.

@@EasyOSX that’s the problem he got it from school and the school didn’t say anything to him but he wasn’t to know how can get inside and break the code

Hey Sofia, if this laptop was legitimately purchased from the school then the only way to unlock it would be to get the password from the school and have them removed it. If this laptop was assigned to your friend to use while he is a student or working at the school, I can’t help you break into it. I cannot do it on a technical level, on a legal level, or an ethical one. Now if I’ve misunderstood something then I apologize, and please let me know what I’ve misunderstood.

Hey EAST, I’m sorry you’re having so many problems. How far along did you get in the process?

Interesting problem. My first suggestion would be trying to use an external keyboard, preferably a wired USB keyboard. If that doesn’t work, I’d try to reset the PRAM/NVRAM. How to do this depends on which particular MBP you have, so I’d recommend this link. Let me know if either of these help. PRAM/NVRAM reset: support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

@@EasyOSX thanks for the quick response. I tried it with an external USB keyboard, but it's not an apple keyboard, that didn't help. I read about resetting the PRAM, but that involves physically removing the RAM chip.? I don't think I'm allowed to do that. :( Edit : I tried the method mentioned in the article as well before, hasn't helped me yet.

So yeah whether you need to remove RAM depends on the model, but that’s probably not the case with your machine. So if that didn’t work, do you have the latest updates for your Mac? Mac OS updates include firmware updates to the machine you’re using, so if you have any updates they might help clear out the issue.

@@EasyOSX how do I check for the updates? I'm not able login to the system..

You can log into your user account on your Mac at all? That’s where the update stuff I’m talking about is located?

Haha, yep.

Unfortunately there's not much you can do unless you remember it. I imagine Apple can help if you were able to prove ownership of the device, but the firmware password is meant to be unlockable.

Like you held Command R and got the firmware password screen?

@@EasyOSX yea and I don’t know the password

Ouch. Unfortunately there’s not a whole lot you can do if you’ve forgotten it. If you really can’t remember it, you might be able to take it to an authorized Apple dealer for help, but no guarantees