New Macbook Air M1 doesn't recognize PW

[TheTurbo]

Hello everyone,

I received my new Macbook Air M1 today. I registered an Apple ID and everything seemed to work. After I have shut it down and then tried to login again it doesn't recognize my Apple ID password.

I can login with my phone and other PC into Apple ID via a browser, but not matter what I do on the Macbook Air the password field is always shaking.

Can one activate something to show the entered letters? Maybe it's doing it wrong.
This is so crazy, first Apple experience and it is totally frustrating...

 

[cupcakes2000]

You checked the obvious things like caps lock on or a random keyboard selected by accident? For example if for some reason you had an azerty layout instead of qwerty. You can change the keyboard layout but clicking the icon top right from the Lock Screen

 

[cupcakes2000]

Ah I misunderstood I though you meant computer password, but my thoughts still apply

 

[chabig]

Logging into a Mac is not done with your AppleID password. You must use the password you used to set up your user account on the machine.

 

[TheTurbo]

Yeah, I checked the layout and the caps lock. It still doesn't work. Problem is that I can't even see what the keyboard is typing since it's hidden.

I read that you could reset the account by pressing COMMAND+S or COMMAND+R while restarting but both doesn't function.

 

[TheTurbo]

I tried Command+R like advised in this video:

It seems that it doesn't work on the new OS.

 

[Puonti]

Logging to a Mac is not done with your AppleID password. You must use the password you used to set up your user account on the machine.

@TheTurbo this is the likely answer to your problem. When you set your Mac up you created a local user account and gave it a password that's separate from your Apple ID.

 

[chabig]

It seems that it doesn't work on the new OS.

It not the OS. It's hardware. Startup option changed with Apple Silicon:

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

You can use macOS Recovery, your computer's built-in recovery system, to reinstall the Mac operating system. Reinstalling macOS doesn't remove your personal data.

support.apple.com

 

[TheTurbo]

@Puonti
I am pretty sure that I entered the same passwords.

@chabig
Thanks for the tip. Now I need to find out how to reset everything.

 

[Puonti]

@Puonti
I am pretty sure that I entered the same passwords.

Ah, alright - that's a bad practise so I assumed otherwise.

 

[TheTurbo]

In order to reinstall BigSur it asks me for the password again.

@Puonti
Do you have any tips on how to do a factory reset?

 

[chabig]

To reset the machine you need the AppleID password. You told us you knew that, and used it to log into iCloud on your phone and a PC browser. If you've forgotten your AppleID password, go here and click "Forgot Password".

Apple ID

Your Apple ID is the account you use for all Apple services

appleid.apple.com

Here is how to erase your Mac and start over:

Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

How to erase (format) the built-in startup disk of an Intel-based Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[TheTurbo]

Yes I know the Apple ID password and am successfully logged into the account.
I followed your guide and erased the Macintosh HD drive. Now I can't reinstall BigSur because it says there is no user with admin rights. I guess I have to sent it back.

 

[Saturn007]

Before sending it back, a desperate measure, call Apple Care tech support directly and ask for help trouble-shooting this!

They'll likely get you up and running in no time.

 

[MK500]

The equivalent to command-R on M1 Macs is:
1) Shut down your mac
2) Hold the power button (thumbprint reader) down until you see a gear appear
3) Click the button under the gear

 

[Cherken1020]

I had the same problem with my new MacBook Air M1. This started after BigSur update. The place I bought it from would not help, saying since it was opened it was my problem. Apple Care was very suprised & upset when I told them that. Spent 2.5 hours on the phone with Apple Care support trying the following several times: resetting passwords, erasing HD & HD Data, repairing HD & HD data, reinstalling BigSur, deactivating Mac, creating new accounts, and more things that I can’t remember. Nothing worked to fix it. Would not recognize Apple password or Mac passwords during various steps. Tech support decided it needed to be sent in. Hoping it’s covered by warranty!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I had the same problem with my new MacBook Air M1. This started after BigSur update. The place I bought it from would not help, saying since it was opened it was my problem. Apple Care was very suprised & upset when I told them that. Spent 2.5 hours on the phone with Apple Care support trying the following several times: resetting passwords, erasing HD & HD Data, repairing HD & HD data, reinstalling BigSur, deactivating Mac, creating new accounts, and more things that I can’t remember. Nothing worked to fix it. Would not recognize Apple password or Mac passwords during various steps. Tech support decided it needed to be sent in. Hoping it’s covered by warranty!

More than likely, Apple will send you a refurb.

 

[Cherken1020]

More than likely, Apple will send you a refurb.

I haven’t even gotten the first payment due on it yet. Is a refurb as good?

 

[Apple_Robert]

I haven’t even gotten the first payment due on it yet. Is a refurb as good?

If that is how Apple goes about it, it will be as good as getting a brand new M1. The outer shell and battery are replaced and the internals are tested to make sure everything works as it should. Apple has a very strict process for refurbished products.

 

[ex0dus]

This is a major issue with these M1s and/or Big Sur. I bought my M1 MBA for $649 from Best Buy as an open box and when I brought it home and booted up and went through Apple initial setup it got stuck on the account screen where you setup your password. It wouldn't budge for 10 mins. So I shutdown and rebooted. I thought it would take me through setup again, however it went right to the login screen with my account name and was prompting for password as if the computer was already setup. Great I thought! It looks like it's all setup. Well, when I went to enter my password it didn't take it. I tried 10 more times and it still didn't take it. I did some googling and saw that others had this same issue (even on Slickdeals).

I tried the reset password trick in terminal from the options menu. Gave me a few errors. Deactivated the Mac. Erased. Then reinstalled Big Sur. I got into the desktop and was able to start using the laptop. All was running great, then I shutdown the laptop after using it for two days. When I booted up the next morning it wouldn't take the password again. This is not user error.

Called apple Support and the guy was helpful. Said he's never heard of this before but walked me through the reset password again, this time no error messages. I've been up and running for a week now and restarted a few times. All seems good. There's serious a flaw in the OS or with hardware somewhere. No reason why the computer shouldn't recognize the only password setup on the only account on the machine.

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is a major issue with these M1s and/or Big Sur. I bought my M1 MBA for $649 from Best Buy as an open box and when I brought it home and booted up and went through Apple initial setup it got stuck on the account screen where you setup your password. It wouldn't budge for 10 mins. So I shutdown and rebooted. I thought it would take me through setup again, however it went right to the login screen with my account name and was prompting for password as if the computer was already setup. Great I thought! It looks like it's all setup. Well, when I went to enter my password it didn't take it. I tried 10 more times and it still didn't take it. I did some googling and saw that others had this same issue (even on Slickdeals).

I tried the reset password trick in terminal from the options menu. Gave me a few errors. Deactivated the Mac. Erased. Then reinstalled Big Sur. I got into the desktop and was able to start using the laptop. All was running great, then I shutdown the laptop after using it for two days. When I booted up the next morning it wouldn't take the password again. This is not user error.

Called apple Support and the guy was helpful. Said he's never heard of this before but walked me through the reset password again, this time no error messages. I've been up and running for a week now and restarted a few times. All seems good. There's serious a flaw in the OS or with hardware somewhere. No reason why the computer shouldn't recognize the only password setup on the only account on the machine.

I agree. It is a very serious software problem when it strikes. It is a good thing support was able to get you through. A lot of people would have lost their cool and given up early on.

 

[djc6]

Have you tried resetting SMC on mac mini? I had a similar issue on my macbook pro when I upgraded to Big Sur and came across this article:

If you can't unlock settings in System Preferences

If System Preferences doesn't accept a valid administrator password when you click the lock to make changes, try these solutions.

support.apple.com

 

[Cherken1020]

Have you tried resetting SMC on mac mini? I had a similar issue on my macbook pro when I upgraded to Big Sur and came across this article:

If you can't unlock settings in System Preferences

If System Preferences doesn't accept a valid administrator password when you click the lock to make changes, try these solutions.

support.apple.com

I remember support had me do this also. Didn’t fix it for mine. ?‍♀️?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Have you tried resetting SMC on mac mini? I had a similar issue on my macbook pro when I upgraded to Big Sur and came across this article:

If you can't unlock settings in System Preferences

If System Preferences doesn't accept a valid administrator password when you click the lock to make changes, try these solutions.

support.apple.com

SMC reset is done automatically with a reboot on the M1. The link you provided is for Intel Macs.

 

[Cherken1020]

If that is how Apple goes about it, it will be as good as getting a brand new M1. The outer shell and battery are replaced and the internals are tested to make sure everything works as it should. Apple has a very strict process for refurbished products.

One more lucky thing happened. When I was moving it while working on it, the day before I contacted support but 2 days after problem started, lost my grip and it fell in the floor hitting a chair on the way down. Support agreed that it was working fine but there is a scuff and very slight dent on lid near hinge. I didn’t buy Apple Care+. I’m thinking I’m out a laptop and $1200.?