The Dreaded Firmware Password

[Bray93]

Hi Everyone.

I've got myself into a not-so-great situation and I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me out. I went out and bought myself a replacement secondhand MacBook recently, so that I could retire my dying 2012 MBP (display issues, can't justify fixing). I thought I was relatively cautious, ensuring that it wasn't signed in with an Apple ID etc. I even ran a stress test just for the sake of it. Everything looked good so I decided to grab it.

Long story short, I got it home and created a bootable USB installer (My 'new' MBP has MacOS Catalina installed, and I want to downgrade it to Mojave to use some old 32-bit apps that I have) only to discover that it's locked with a firmware password. I've been in contact with the previous owner and they have given me a few things to try, but they haven't unlocked it. I've also taken the appropriate avenues to ensure it wasn't stolen (or at least reported stolen) in my state by taking it to my local Police Station and having them check the serial # etc.

So, now I am in talks with my local Authorised Apple Service Provider to try and work out what my options are - I know their 'standard practice' to remove the password is to have proof of purchase supplied, but I'm hoping that since the laptop is older (2013) there might be some leniency or another way that I can go about it. The device isn't iCloud locked or anything like that, it just has this firmware password set.

So, my question for the forum is simply whether I can somehow 'get around' this firmware password and downgrade the OS. I've considered a VM and may take that avenue if I have to, but would much prefer to just install the older OS on the MBP itself.

I apologise if this has been asked/answered before - I did some searching before making this post but there wasn't anything that answered my question specifically. I know the Firmware password cannot be removed and I've accepted that, hopefully Apple can help me out with that!

For the sake of including it (not that I think it will be of much help) my 'new' laptop is a 2013 MBP 15".

Thanks in advance!

 

[Apple_Robert]

There is no getting around the firmware lock. The previous owner should have been able to give you the firmware passcode. If he can't, you need to return it and get your money back. Apple will not help you unless you are the original owner and can prove ownership.

 

[Bray93]

There is no getting around the firmware lock. The previous owner should have been able to give you the firmware passcode. If he can't, you need to return it and get your money back. Apple will not help you unless you are the original owner and can prove ownership.

Thank you for replying - Unfortunately I bought it from a local buy/sell app (Gumtree) and paid cash, the owner isn't willing to refund me. I don't think I have a leg to stand on. I guess I've learnt an expensive lesson!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thank you for replying - Unfortunately I bought it from a local buy/sell app (Gumtree) and paid cash, the owner isn't willing to refund me. I don't think I have a leg to stand on. I guess I've learnt an expensive lesson!

He may have sold you a stolen Mac or he bought it from someone else in that same condition, and wanted to pass the joy off on another victim.

I hope you didn't pay too much for it. I would try and see if you can sell it for parts and make crystal clear to any buyer, that it is firmware locked.

 

[Bray93]

He may have sold you a stolen Mac or he bought it from someone else in that same condition, and wanted to pass the joy off on another victim.

I hope you didn't pay too much for it. I would try and see if you can sell it for parts and make crystal clear to any buyer, that it is firmware locked.

I suspect you might be right about it being 'bought in the same condition' and then moved on. As I said, the device hasn't been reported stolen, or at least the serial # isn't on the national record, I would have willingly handed it in if it had been. Seems a little redundant since its still usable how it is, what does the firmware password actually stop you from being able to do? It has been wiped anyway (it has a fresh install of MacOS) I just really want the OS downgraded

 

[Apple_Robert]

I suspect you might be right about it being 'bought in the same condition' and then moved on. As I said, the device hasn't been reported stolen, or at least the serial # isn't on the national record, I would have willingly handed it in if it had been. Seems a little redundant since its still usable how it is, what does the firmware password actually stop you from being able to do? It has been wiped anyway (it has a fresh install of MacOS) I just really want the OS downgraded

Set a firmware password on your Mac - Apple Support

When you set a firmware password, users who don't have the password can't start up from any disk other than the designated startup disk.

support.apple.com

 

[loby]

I set a firmware password for safety and it is a good measure to do so...but...if you forget the password you are out of luck.

I had to go through the hassles of having to take my laptop to Apple and have them reset it. They had to open up my laptop to do it etc. I wrote the password down for safe keeping, but it did not work when I tried a year later or so. Not saying that something messed up, but probably I wrote the password down wrong.

Unless you are the original owner, Apple will not reset it. So, add a firmware password with caution.

 

[Bray93]

I set a firmware password for safety and it is a good measure to do so...but...if you forget the password you are out of luck.

I had to go through the hassles of having to take my laptop to Apple and have them reset it. They had to open up my laptop to do it etc. I wrote the password down for safe keeping, but it did not work when I tried a year later or so. Not saying that something messed up, but probably I wrote the password down wrong.

Unless you are the original owner, Apple will not reset it. So, add a firmware password with caution.

Yeah, I have had a response from Apple since I posted this thread and they aren't going to help me. I have never set a firmware password myself and probably never will, personal preference I guess. This is the first time I've come across this issue when buying a secondhand device though. I guess I'll just add it to my list of things to check in future.

I suppose I just have to accept that I have myself an expensive paperweight or media player now.

 

[loby]

Yeah, I have had a response from Apple since I posted this thread and they aren't going to help me. I have never set a firmware password myself and probably never will, personal preference I guess. This is the first time I've come across this issue when buying a secondhand device though. I guess I'll just add it to my list of things to check in future.

I suppose I just have to accept that I have myself an expensive paperweight or media player now.

There are a few ways maybe to reset it, but you may have to look on eBay for a hack. Check around the internet or YouTube for a solution. Small chance, but you never know.

 

[svanstrom]

Yeah, I have had a response from Apple since I posted this thread and they aren't going to help me. I have never set a firmware password myself and probably never will, personal preference I guess. This is the first time I've come across this issue when buying a secondhand device though. I guess I'll just add it to my list of things to check in future.

I suppose I just have to accept that I have myself an expensive paperweight or media player now.

Maybe you can tell the seller that since it came in a crippled condition, in a non-expected way, that you "sadly" have to report him to the police for fraud as your insurance company said that they won't even consider the case without paper from the police.

Perhaps that will make them reconsider, especially if they are doing something shady.

"Blaming" your insurance company like that will get you out of being the bad guy threatening with the police; because all you want to do is try to recover your money, and that's just the way that the insurance company works. So there's really nothing that you can do; and you are just friendly telling the seller this before you sadly have to start that process.

?

Edit: I always set a firmware password; if I ever were to randomly go and die, then all my computers would, unbeknownst to anyone, get onto the market just like this. So no need for there to be a bad guy anywhere; perhaps you're the first one to notice.

 

[Bray93]

There are a few ways maybe to reset it, but you may have to look on eBay for a hack. Check around the internet or YouTube for a solution. Small chance, but you never know.

Thanks for the suggestions.. I have spent all day researching and it looks like there is a way but it’s far too complicated for me. I suppose for now I’ll just use it with Catalina and run a VM and pray I don’t run into any issues that require me to reset it or put it in recovery mode. There is a ‘hack’ device on eBay but I’m not comfortable taking that road.. And in all honesty for the price I could probably buy a replacement logic board and just be done with it.

 

[Bray93]

Maybe you can tell the seller that since it came in a crippled condition, in a non-expected way, that you "sadly" have to report him to the police for fraud as your insurance company said that they won't even consider the case without paper from the police.

Perhaps that will make them reconsider, especially if they are doing something shady.

"Blaming" your insurance company like that will get you out of being the bad guy threatening with the police; because all you want to do is try to recover your money, and that's just the way that the insurance company works. So there's really nothing that you can do; and you are just friendly telling the seller this before you sadly have to start that process.

?

Edit: I always set a firmware password; if I ever were to randomly go and die, then all my computers would, unbeknownst to anyone, get onto the market just like this. So no need for there to be a bad guy anywhere; perhaps you're the first one to notice.

Thank you for your input. I suppose it is quite possible that I’m the first one to notice. I would say that being an 8 year old laptop there’s a good chance it has changed hands a few times. I suppose it’s all part and parcel of the risk you take buying secondhand! I’ll know to check next time. I don’t really see the point in pursuing it to that extent when the hardware will probably be ‘obsolete’ in a couple of years time, at least in the eye of Apple (sadly the fate my 2012 MBP and 2013 iMac met last year as well). I think I’d rather cut my losses and just look at upgrading again in the not too distant future. I was primarily looking for something to keep me ‘limping’ until the larger M1 MBP is released anyway.

I guess my options for now are to use it ‘as is’ or look for a cheap replacement display for my 2012 MBP in the interim. Hopefully being non-retina I can find something that fits within my tight budget.

 

[wordsworth]

How about this? I found it at

SOLVED: How do I reset the firmware password on my MacBook Pro? - MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

Have you tried this? Feedback from the comments in the article says it works: Add or remove a stick of RAM. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one. Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R. The system will restart with the...

www.ifixit.com

BEGINS

Add or remove a stick of RAM. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one.

Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R.

The system will restart with the ‘bong' noise; allow it to do this 3 times. On the third ‘bong’ you can let go of the keys.

The machine will now boot with a cleared password and reset PRAM/NVRAM.

You can then shut down the machine and reconfigure the RAM configuration as you want it.

ENDS

 

[Bray93]

How about this? I found it at

SOLVED: How do I reset the firmware password on my MacBook Pro? - MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

Have you tried this? Feedback from the comments in the article says it works: Add or remove a stick of RAM. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one. Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R. The system will restart with the...

www.ifixit.com

BEGINS

Add or remove a stick of RAM. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one.

Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R.

The system will restart with the ‘bong' noise; allow it to do this 3 times. On the third ‘bong’ you can let go of the keys.

The machine will now boot with a cleared password and reset PRAM/NVRAM.

You can then shut down the machine and reconfigure the RAM configuration as you want it.

ENDS

Thanks for sharing, but the model I have (2013 MBP 15") has the RAM 'soldered' or attached to the logic board and can't be removed.

 

[MultiFinder17]

How about this? I found it at

SOLVED: How do I reset the firmware password on my MacBook Pro? - MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Early 2011

Have you tried this? Feedback from the comments in the article says it works: Add or remove a stick of RAM. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one. Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R. The system will restart with the...

www.ifixit.com

BEGINS

Add or remove a stick of RAM. Obviously if you have one stick in, add one and if you have two in remove one.

Power on the Mac and immediately press and hold command-option-P-R.

The system will restart with the ‘bong' noise; allow it to do this 3 times. On the third ‘bong’ you can let go of the keys.

The machine will now boot with a cleared password and reset PRAM/NVRAM.

You can then shut down the machine and reconfigure the RAM configuration as you want it.

ENDS

Unfortunately (or fortunately for security purposes) this method only works with much older Macs. Even if it did work with newer machines, it requires removable RAM that a 2013 would not have.

 

[wordsworth]

Ah! I misread the original post when I went back to it and erroneously thought it was the 2012 MacBook Pro that was the problem.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Check your "conversations".

 

[Bray93]

After (far too many) hours of digging around the web and although the firmware password is still a mystery, I’ve found a safe and legitimate way to downgrade the installed MacOS version without needing said password, which is ultimately what I wanted to do.

Thank you for all of the suggestions/advice.

 

[darkmatter343]

I don't know how the listing was worded, but if it didn't mentioned it had an Firmware password I would definitely be bringing that up with the seller. I've been wronged like this before buying a used iPhone, and while I didn't want to have to do it, the seller refused at first, so I let him know I would report this incident to the police with the information I had on him. Well, I got my refund fast and quick... and so while you may not want to take the route, I think you'd be surprised it may help. I surely wouldn't just accept the laptop. It sucks, but you may just have to splash some waves and let him know you're willing to talk to the police. Actually, you could even "suggest" to him you did talk to the police and they are investigating the laptop themselves. Light a fire under the guy to give him a bit of a scare. Anyways, it's your money and situation, but if the seller isn't willing to refund you and didn't tell you about the firmware password, that's how I'd proceed. Don't just accept it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don't know how the listing was worded, but if it didn't mentioned it had an Firmware password I would definitely be bringing that up with the seller. I've been wronged like this before buying a used iPhone, and while I didn't want to have to do it, the seller refused at first, so I let him know I would report this incident to the police with the information I had on him. Well, I got my refund fast and quick... and so while you may not want to take the route, I think you'd be surprised it may help. I surely wouldn't just accept the laptop. It sucks, but you may just have to splash some waves and let him know you're willing to talk to the police. Actually, you could even "suggest" to him you did talk to the police and they are investigating the laptop themselves. Light a fire under the guy to give him a bit of a scare. Anyways, it's your money and situation, but if the seller isn't willing to refund you and didn't tell you about the firmware password, that's how I'd proceed. Don't just accept it.

The matter at hand is a civil matter and the police won't get involved. The OP has no way of proving the laptop is stolen or that the seller knowingly sold him a locked Mac.

The OP could try your suggestion. The seller may call his bluff and then the OP is back to square one. Unless the OP paid using PayPal on Gumtree, he is out the money. It is a crappy situation for sure.

 

[darkmatter343]

Usually a bluff would be sufficient, I don't imagine the seller wants to risk police involvement, even if the seller thinks it is a bluff. Anyways, it's worked for me when I've been ripped off and at this point what does the OP have to lose? The seller already said he wouldn't refund so a little bluff won't hurt to try, but yeah the Police probably can't do much and that's if they would even get involved.

Anyways, just send a bluff... You tell the seller you're willing to reach out to the police and have them run the serial number, or even maybe that Apple suggested getting the police involved. Better yet, tell the seller the Police offered to take the laptop and invest age but you're offering the seller a refund before you leave it with them. It's worth a shot at the very least, I just personally would not leave it.

 

[Audit13]

The password can be removed using an eeprom programmer.

I won't get into the legalities involved but it can be done.

 

[haddy]

Yeah, I have had a response from Apple since I posted this thread and they aren't going to help me. I have never set a firmware password myself and probably never will, personal preference I guess. This is the first time I've come across this issue when buying a secondhand device though. I guess I'll just add it to my list of things to check in future.

I suppose I just have to accept that I have myself an expensive paperweight or media player now.

As I understand it you can still use it running 10.15?

 

[Bray93]

As I understand it you can still use it running 10.15?

Yes that's correct. I managed to achieve what I wanted anyway and downgrade the OS, I suppose I have concerns around storing anything 'sensitive' on its local drive though without the firmware password.. If I ever get locked out or something it could be a pain.

I've also noticed the internal speakers and headphone jack don't appear to work. Was just an all-round bad purchase I think.

 

[Fishrrman]

There's a lesson here:
DON'T buy a used MacBook unless you know what you're getting (and also know how to discover such things).

Either buy new, or Apple-refurbished.
That way, you KNOW you're getting something fresh and "un-tainted" (as this MBP was)...