MBP that I sold is asking for password ?

[Fred Zed]

I recently sold my M1 MBP to someone. Today I received a call that they are attempting to install some sort of software on the MacBook which is asking for a local password for a username that I don’t recall using on this MacBook.
When I prepared the MacBook for sale, I removed it from find my and also followed the steps shown on Apple support website. I actually also , wiped the partition. During the sale we setup a generic local username and password so that the buyer could make sure all was working.

Would anyone know what the issue might be ? I’ve requested screen shots of issue. Thanks.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If the OS was a clean install and all other user data was removed, (as in the case of Monterey's new feature) whatever the buyer is seeing from the app install prompt would have nothing to do with you as a previous owner. Do you know what app he is trying to use?

 

[Fred Zed]

If the OS was a clean install and all other user data was removed, (as in the case of Monterey's new feature) whatever the buyer is seeing from the app install prompt would have nothing to do with you as a previous owner. Do you know what app he is trying to use?

Monterey wasn’t installed at the time of sale.
What I don’t understand is that there was always two credentials required for the MBP. One was either my Apple ID username and password and the other was the local credentials which was I recall the first letter of my first name and my last name.
The buyer showed me via FaceTime a username that I don’t recall using but familiar with on my android or other devices. Which makes matters more confusing for me.

I’m not sure what app he was trying to install. But it looked like DJ equipment and software connected to the MBP.

 

[Fred Zed]

I guess my question is where is that username that is being prompted originate from ? It's a username that I am familiar with but not used on MacBook . Cheers.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I guess my question is where is that username that is being prompted originate from ? It's a username that I am familiar with but not used on MacBook . Cheers.

Make sure the device is removed from your Find My. I had a similar problem with the M1 I sold too. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/removing-macbook-from-find-my-devices.2315369/ may or may not be related. Hope this gets resolved for you.

 

[Fred Zed]

Make sure the device is removed from your Find My. I had a similar problem with the M1 I sold too. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/removing-macbook-from-find-my-devices.2315369/ may or may not be related. Hope this gets resolved for you.

It was removed and I also checked after he FaceTime me to make sure. Im
Just curious to know how that username which I never used in the MacBook get there. A username that I’ve used on other devices in the past like android ironically.

 

[Sciomar]

It was removed and I also checked after he FaceTime me to make sure. Im
Just curious to know how that username which I never used in the MacBook get there. A username that I’ve used on other devices in the last like android ironically.

Did you ever have an app or visit a website that used that username and password that you maybe had paired with one of those other devices? I would go into those devices, app, or website and make sure the account in question is no longer linked to the MBP.

 

[KeniLF]

Would you be able to provide specifics on exactly what program you do expect to see using this particular ID? You mentioned Android, however, there are many programs and services running on that OS.

Specifically, do you mean that the ID is one of your Google account names?

It's going to be tough to diagnose without info on this. From what I gather, it almost seems like there's an indication that some browser that retains ID info was not actually destroyed, to be honest... I did read that you said you hadn't logged into the MBP with those credentials, however, it's tough to understand how else they could be experiencing this scenario.

1. what app the buyer was attempting to install?
2. is it being installed from the Mac App Store or from a website? If website, which one?
3. is the buyer able to check to see the list of available users set up on the MBP?

The Apple instructions you followed to prepare it for sale went without a hitch, I assume, and all of the steps that also lead to new instructions were followed.

*fixed a couple of typos*

 

[Fred Zed]

Would you be able to provide specifics on exactly what program you do expect to see this particular ID? You mentioned Android, however, there are many programs and services running on that OS.

Specifically, do you mean that the ID is one of your Google account names?

It's going to be tough to diagnose without info on. From what I gather, it almost seems like there's an indication that some browser that retains ID info was not actually destroyed, to be honest... I did read that you said you hadn't logged into the MBP with those credentials, however, it's tough to understand how else they could be experiencing this scenario.

1. what app the buyer was attempting to install?
2. is it being installed from the Mac App Store or from a website? If website, which one?
3. is the buyer able to check to see the list of available users set up on the MBP?

The Apple instructions you followed to prepare it for sale went without a hitch, I assume, and all of the steps that also lead to new instructions were followed.

Cheers. I asked him to send me screen shots of the issues. From what I recall from the FaceTime call , it appeared his software was attempting to install on the MacBook drive, and the prompt on the MacBook screen was showing a username and blank field for password.

 

[Fred Zed]

Did you ever have an app or visit a website that used that username and password that you maybe had paired with one of those other devices? I would go into those devices, app, or website and make sure the account in question is no longer linked to the MBP.

No, I didn't have much installed on the MBP except for the standard Apple software that it came with. Third party apps were, Telegram , iMazing , Al Dente.

I'll need more information form the person like screen shots etc which I have requested, but that far haven't received any. All I saw via facetime was a field with part of a username that I've used mainly in correspondences where I don't want to give my real first and last name. Example , mailing lists for deals and coupons from Samsung or Adobe.
I don't recall using that for locking down or setting up a PC or account per SE.

 

[satcomer]

Then you messed up! Did you ever read the Apple article What todo before you sell, give away or trade your Mac? This would have saved you headaches!

 

[Fred Zed]

Then you messed up! Did you ever read the Apple article What todo before you sell, give away or trade your Mac? This would have saved you headaches!

You're pretty sure of yourself aren't you. Like I mentioned that Apple article was followed to a tea.

 

[mick2]

You're pretty sure of yourself aren't you. Like I mentioned that Apple article was followed to a tea.

You can login to your AppleID through a browser and confirm 100% that the old mac is not listed as a device under your AppleID account. If it is, you can also remove it from there.

If you've confirmed this and you really have followed the Apple instructions re preparing a machine for sale, then there is no way that the machine can have any trace of your account(s). The Apple instructions include a physical format of the hard drive and a reinstallation of a fresh OS image; there's literally no way that any of your data can persist through that.

My guess is either crossed wires with the new owner (his decription of teh problem sounds a bit vague atm), or you may have missed a step(s) of the Apple guide.

 

[MBAir2010]

LONG SHOT

"is asking for a local password for a username"

could be the the new owner needs to enter his MBP password.
while using Catalina i needed to enter my Macbook Air password to activate iCloud, then iCloud password
which threw me for a loop, twice

 

[Sciomar]

No, I didn't have much installed on the MBP except for the standard Apple software that it came with. Third party apps were, Telegram , iMazing , Al Dente.

I'll need more information form the person like screen shots etc which I have requested, but that far haven't received any. All I saw via facetime was a field with part of a username that I've used mainly in correspondences where I don't want to give my real first and last name. Example , mailing lists for deals and coupons from Samsung or Adobe.
I don't recall using that for locking down or setting up a PC or account per SE.

Sounds like maybe they're phishing ?‍♂️