Used Mac: Disable Find My Mac

[mayhew3]

I just got a used Mac Mini (2018) on eBay, and the previous owner is still signed in to Find My Mac. I found this article, describing how to reset the NVRAM: https://tidbits.com/2016/07/22/disable-find-my-mac-by-resetting-nvram/

I tried this, both using the keyboard shortcut and the terminal command, but I don't know how to confirm it worked. When I go to System Preferences / Internet Accounts / iCloud, the row for Find My Mac is unchecked, but it also says "Find My Mac already in use". I have no idea how to read this. Is it enabled or not? When I try checking it, it asks me for the password for an account that isn't mine "to turn off Find My Mac." This suggests to me that it is currently "on", no?

 

[Brian33]

I just got a used Mac Mini (2018) on eBay, and the previous owner is still signed in to Find My Mac. I found this article, describing how to reset the NVRAM: https://tidbits.com/2016/07/22/disable-find-my-mac-by-resetting-nvram/

I tried this, both using the keyboard shortcut and the terminal command, but I don't know how to confirm it worked.

Well, we can see if those particular settings in NVRAM have been deleted, or not (see below). I don't know how to tell wether that totally turned off Find My Mac or not... (I notice the article is from 2016 and probably for a different version of macOS than you have.)

The article said to issue nvram -d fmm-computer-name nvram -d fmm-mobileme-token-FMM which should delete those two NVRAM variables. You can verify that they no longer exist by using nvram -p | grep fmm which will "print out" (nvram -p) all of the variables and pipe that output (the vertical bar, |) to a search (grep) for any line containing "fmm" and then display those as output. So if the command outputs nothing, there are no NVRAM variables containing the string "fmm".

When I try checking it, it asks me for the password for an account that isn't mine "to turn off Find My Mac." This suggests to me that it is currently "on", no?

Yeah, I'd agree that makes it seem like it's turned on. I don't suppose the seller will give you the password!

Maybe someone else will come up with a solution, but the only thing I can think of is to wipe the drive and re-install macOS. What version of macOS is currently installed?

 

[Temetka]

Necro posting -

BUT

It should always be standard practice with a used computer to wipe the drive and reload the OS from scratch. You have no idea what the previous user did to the OS or if they left any surprises, viruses, key loggers, etc., behind. Just nuke it from orbit and then you have the peace of mind of knowing the OS is minty fresh and clean.

 

[Kosdon3200]

Find My Mac is what enables Activation Lock which is specifically designed to disallow the erasure of the Mac as a means of making it usable. This is the change made a few years ago that renders Apple products unusable after theft and this deters theft greatly. What you need to do is send an email to the person's AppleID who is presently signed in, and request that they go to https://appleid.apple.com and remove that device from their list of devices. Without that, you're sunk. If this Mac was managed with MDM in its prior life, and you know the bypass code (that is assigned to the device by the MDM) then that bypass code will also let you disable Activation Lock. Your best bet is the first option: have the person you bought it from remove that device from their AppleID devices using the web site I mentioned.

Since you purchased on Ebay, you can also threaten to leave unkind feedback about the transaction unless they remove the device from their AppleID. Something along the lines of "this person sold an activation-locked device and refused to unlock the device, rendering it useless" should ensure this person doesn't sell any more activation locked devices whether he knows the AppleID password (he's legitimate) or not (he's selling stolen hardware).

It's possible that the person who sold it on Ebay is not the person whose AppleID enabled Find My Mac. If that's the case it's almost assuredly stolen, so the person who owns the AppleID may offer a reward to you for it. If it was stolen, law enforcement might appreciate a heads-up about the person you purchased it from. You could return it to the person it was stolen from while also helping bust the perp, and end up a real hero for somebody.

 

[MacCheetah3]

What you need to do is send an email to the person's AppleID who is presently signed in, and request that they...

Remove a device from Find Devices on iCloud.com

Use Find Devices on iCloud.com to temporarily remove a device from your list of devices or remove Activation Lock on a device you gave away or sold.

support.apple.com