Tell HN: Full macOS reinstall because Apple ID

On a more serious note, I ran macs on multiple occasions without an AppleID - it presents maybe one nag a month, usually when you accidentally open “Messages”.

Microsoft, sadly, has also been increasingly more annoying with pushing online accounts on people’s machines lately.

You can also log into the OS with an Apple ID but also not required.

At least, on Android you can use the Aurora store, or install .apk files manually... but that's another story.

i recently walked a friend through setting up a their MacBook Air M1. and, like you said, i told them to skip setting an Apple ID. that it was not necessary.

but the first setup doesn't allow you to skip. or didn't make it obvious how to do so. (dark pattern?)

i suppose one could use keyboard shortcuts, or install in safe mode, etc... but for the regular users won't be able to skip that step.

Can it be kept updated with system updates? Don't know any more.

After support clears up any issues with the second account, reinstall macOS on the device with Internet Recovery.[0]

[0] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

Even quicker still may be using the iOS Apple Support app if you have an iOS device handy. Doesn’t even have to be yours, you could borrow a friend’s. In my experience, setting an appointment on the support site is very quick and easy with callbacks under a minute being normal for me.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-support/id1130498044

Someone may have owned or used the computer before you, even if you bought it “new.” It might have been purchased and returned and resold as new without your knowledge, and not properly removed from a prior associated Apple ID, perhaps. It might have been purchased fraudulently by this hypothetical prior owner. Or your purchase may have been flagged as fraud post-sale by the vendor for unknown or no reason, and reported to Apple as stolen by said vendor.

Apple will be able to help you with any of these concerns, if you are the legitimate owner. I don’t mean to offend or imply or suggest you are not. All Apple needs to prove ownership is a picture of your receipt or a screenshot of the invoice if purchased online, whether from Apple or a third party.

This isn't as easy as it used to be - the performance of the new M1 Mac's is pretty great compared to the competition at a similar price point (especially considering the form factor).

They aren't really overpriced anymore (although it does depend on what you value). I've not seen another laptop I would trade in for my 16GB M1 Macbook Air.

But there are always switching costs, and a billion long-tail reasons that could be keeping someone on a platform. The odds are minuscule that a) switching is a reasonable option on a timescale that would help OP and b) he's unaware of the option.

So yes, these comments are unhelpful.

Do you have an screenshot and a photo of the bricked macbook? It adds a lot of realism to the complain.

Anecdote time: My wife bought a new Android phone and gave me her older phone. After a factory reset, the old phone asked for her gmail account before I could add my gmail account. It's a nice anti thief feature, but it surprised me a lot!!! (What happens if you want to sell a used phone?)

Yet this is still safe as you need your unlock code to remove an account, even if the phone is already unlocked