WARNING: Activation Lock after Big Sur Install

[TiggrToo]

Not really. "You should prepare for the chance of losing access to your computer for around 4 days" is not reasonable.

One expects the worst case scenario to be a full restore, which takes a few hours.

Again, it's a Developer beta.

These betas are designed to give developers - folks who develop - a first chance to start updating their code for the next OS.

It comes with several caveats. Like, for example, don't use it on your primary machine.

We have an in-house Dev team. The order there is no one is permitted to start with Big Sur on their primary machines until the second public beta. If anyone wants it beforehand then, well that's what we have Virtual Machines for.

You want to misuse a Developer beta release because you don't have patience for the first public beta, then go right ahead.

However the risk is 100% on you. Congratulations, you found a bug. Now, quit complaining that you found a bug.

 

[adrianlondon]

Even developers would prefer not to lose their machine for a few days while Apple has to re-activate it due to a T2 bug; primary machine or not. You really believe the dev betas should only be tested on clean installs in virtual machines?

This is a public forum. You post complaining about posters telling them not to complain. And then I complain about you complaining about people complaining. Oh well. Into the hole I go.

 

[TiggrToo]

Even developers would prefer not to lose their machine for a few days while Apple has to re-activate it due to a T2 bug; primary machine or not. You really believe the dev betas should only be tested on clean installs in virtual machines?

Why yes. Yes I do.

This is a public forum. You post complaining about posters telling them not to complain.

Why yes, it is a public forum, which gives me just as much ability to point out misuse as it does for you to complain.
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Not really. "You should prepare for the chance of losing access to your computer for around 4 days" is not reasonable.

One expects the worst case scenario to be a full restore, which takes a few hours.

Here's what Apple say about Developer betas (emphasis mine):

Attempting to install beta software in an unauthorized manner violates Apple policy and could render your device unusable and necessitate an out of warranty repair. Make sure to back up your devices before installing beta software and install only on devices and systems that you are prepared to erase if necessary.

If you don't want to abide by those terms then don't install a developer beta. And further then don't get indignant when someone points this out.

 

[CalMin]

I don't currently have any Macs with a T2 (just a T1) but wow - this is a scary bug for those of us that purchase used. I purchased my last two MBPs used on Craiglist and would not have any proof-of-purchase if my computer ended up with an activation lock like this.

 

[neodude237]

Again, it's a Developer beta.

These betas are designed to give developers - folks who develop - a first chance to start updating their code for the next OS.

It comes with several caveats. Like, for example, don't use it on your primary machine.

We have an in-house Dev team. The order there is no one is permitted to start with Big Sur on their primary machines until the second public beta. If anyone wants it beforehand then, well that's what we have Virtual Machines for.

You want to misuse a Developer beta release because you don't have patience for the first public beta, then go right ahead.

However the risk is 100% on you. Congratulations, you found a bug. Now, quit complaining that you found a bug.

As was already stated, I'd consider a reasonable expectation being you revert to a system backup or reinstall the OS when things go south. Turning a computer into a brick is a bit extreme on the spectrum of possible bugs you might encounter.

 

[TiggrToo]

As was already stated, I'd consider a reasonable expectation being you revert to a system backup or reinstall the OS when things go south. Turning a computer into a brick is a bit extreme on the spectrum of possible bugs you might encounter.

Extreme? Absolutely. No argument there whatsoever.

But a risk anyway? Yes, as was so amply demonstrated and a classic example of why Apple place the warnings they do.

 

[pshifrin]

This happened to me too... but with Catalina! A refurb 16 inch, direct from apple, I bought in May. I had set it up, didn't like how I did it and decided to erase and reinstall and boom, activation lock.

Apple support made me send in the proof of purchase and then NEVER got back to me! I called in every day for 8 days straight and they never had an answer. There was no way to speak directly with the correct dept. It was so frustrating. I was like check your records, it was a computer ordered directly from you 2 days ago!

I eventually returned it since it was in the 14 day period and ordered another one.

The only reason I didn't return it immediately was I had a working computer I was upgrading from.

 

[Jaymee]

Ok Apple remotely unlocked my Mac an it said Mac is now active. So I re downloaded Catalina. An its back to nomral.
What im going to assume is now my Mac is totally unlocked an this will NOT happen again.... so I am downloading Big Sur again assuming my Mac will not go in to activation lock again. Anyone think this is a bad idea?? Downloading now....

 

[aeikenberry]

Ok Apple remotely unlocked my Mac an it said Mac is now active. So I re downloaded Catalina. An its back to nomral.
What im going to assume is now my Mac is totally unlocked an this will NOT happen again.... so I am downloading Big Sur again assuming my Mac will not go in to activation lock again. Anyone think this is a bad idea?? Downloading now....

Let us know how it goes!

 

[dougmcarthur]

Hey everybody, wanted to provide a word of caution to those considering installing the beta. I woke up this morning to my Mac in Activation Lock and saying that my Mac is linked to another Apple ID. I tried everything (booting into recovery mode, safe mode, erasing and removing from iCloud) and it still boots into Activation Lock.

After an hour on the phone with Apple Support and reaching a senior advisor, the proposed solution is to submit as much info as possible to Apple to determine proof of purchase. He said the timeframe could be 4 days.

So proceed with serious caution if you're considering jumping on the beta train.

oh man ... that sucks. I'm glad I made a snapshot of my machine on SuperDuper before I upgraded to the beta.

 

[Jaymee]

Decided to wait for public Beta its out THIS month. May as well wait 2-3 weeks for the stable public beta direct from the apple site

 

[tundramac]

Brand new to me MBP 2019 13 inch refurb bought from the Apple Online store. 10.15.5 update installed cleanly on settings up. Then I tried to install Big Sur... Activation lock... being new I thought it was a problem with the refurb - maybe it was not correctly processed at Apple... now I see this... maybe not.

I returned it, got another one and am not installing Big Sur until I know this is no longer an issue.

It installed cleanly on my old MBP 2013 13 inch.

 

[DeadeyeM]

Just goes to show how much power Apple has over your machine... Even if you buy it it's not 100% yours... I smell class action lawsuit

 

[TiggrToo]

Just goes to show how much power Apple has over your machine... Even if you buy it it's not 100% yours... I smell class action lawsuit

Oh whatever. It's a Developer beta.

 

[dmccloud]

Just goes to show how much power Apple has over your machine... Even if you buy it it's not 100% yours... I smell class action lawsuit

Not going go anywhere for beta software, especially if you didn't read through the developer agreement before downloading it.

 

[Hoangvn]

Thanks @rdejaegher for raising this issue.

I got the same issue. My Mac is MBP 2019 13inch Touch Bar with T2 Chip. I already contacted the Apple support team on Monday and still waiting to the security activation team's approval to unlock my Mac. Fortunately, I am still able to get full-access to my Mac for now. I just discovered this issue when I was trying to reset Factory default OS - which somehow enacted the Mac Activation Lock process. Although I am the only user for my Mac, I can not turn-off the activation lock...

Following Apple instructions regard to how to turn-off activation lock. I tried multiple times to remove my Mac linked to my apple ID in Find Me, then completely signed-out of my iCloud before starting the reset process but it didn't work. I suspect this issue is nothing to do with my apple ID stuffs, it is about the new MacOS Big Sur Beta bugs or something went wrong with T2 chip.

To be real, I think that my case is 50/50 chance of losing my access to my Mac permanently because Apple activation team can deny my proof-of-purchase. I bought my used Mac from unapproved authorized reseller (my sale receipt may be invalid under Apple policy). I am still waiting the result but I am bit worries about the worse case scenario may come. Will keep you update with my case after getting confirmation from Apple.

Now I am thinking about the possibility that instead of trying to prove my proof-of-purchase, I might try to convince Apple that I'm the current owner of my Mac by allowing them to get access remotely into my Mac Or just showing them the fact that I tried to turn off activation lock but it didn't work. In addition, my AppleCare+ is still on until 2023 and don't know it would be helpful in my case or not. Any advice would be highly appreciated.

I hope anyone got this issue will be solved soon.

 

[felix_schwarz]

FWIW someone on Reddit experienced the Activation Lock issue with a Mac mini and was able to install Big Sur after the Activation Lock had been removed: https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOSBeta/comments/he9y78/_/fwzzu7x
So far, it's the only such report I've seen.

 

[tundramac]

Ok Apple remotely unlocked my Mac an it said Mac is now active. So I re downloaded Catalina. An its back to nomral.
What im going to assume is now my Mac is totally unlocked an this will NOT happen again.... so I am downloading Big Sur again assuming my Mac will not go in to activation lock again. Anyone think this is a bad idea?? Downloading now....

Any update?

 

[TiggrToo]

Any update?

Decided to wait for public Beta its out THIS month. May as well wait 2-3 weeks for the stable public beta direct from the apple site

 

[Jaymee]

No updates yet.
People are saying they expect PUBLIC beta to be out any day now, however given previous years should be around 21st before a stable public beta direct from Apple.

PLUS it seems like Apple is getting iPad Pro ready for MacOS..... Finally MacOS on iPad is coming.... it makes sense with the touch screen design of some of the features Can't wait, always wanted macOS on my iPad.

 

[Jaymee]

ok I thought it just dropped but they changed the layout of the page lol

keep checking at : https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/guide

 

[Taz Mangus]

PLUS it seems like Apple is getting iPad Pro ready for MacOS..... Finally MacOS on iPad is coming.... it makes sense with the touch screen design of some of the features Can't wait, always wanted macOS on my iPad.

The underpinnings of iOS/iPad OS has always been macOS/OS X. I doubt Apple is going to give full folder access on the iPad like you get on the Mac computer.

 

[funkahdafi]

Bug or not, I find this whole T2 "security" chip disaster ridiculous. Obviously, Apple can disable YOUR computer anytime, at will. This time it's a bug, next time it's the piece of software you installed that they don't like. And they sell that to you as "security". Outrageous.

 

[Jaekae]

No updates yet.
People are saying they expect PUBLIC beta to be out any day now, however given previous years should be around 21st before a stable public beta direct from Apple.

PLUS it seems like Apple is getting iPad Pro ready for MacOS..... Finally MacOS on iPad is coming.... it makes sense with the touch screen design of some of the features Can't wait, always wanted macOS on my iPad.

think the more touchlike UI in macos is to make sidecar work bit better and same time get more close design language in both OSes. macos on ipad will never come

 

[MarkThomas1971]

Outrageous

ermeguuuuurd outrageous