Activation Lock Won't Authenticate

While I usually just do an OS update on top of whatever is on my laptop, I do occasionally completely erase the hard drive and start over. That is the case for me with Golden Gate.

I've created a Golden Gate install USB, have used the startup options on my laptop to erase the internal drive, and now I'm ready to install the new OS.

Except that I can't.

When I get to the Activation Lock screen, I'm asked to enter either the password or the phone number for my Apple account. My Apple ID shows(or at least part of it does), so I know which account this is, and trust me, I know what they both are.

But once I do that, nothing happens. The Gear icon just keeps spinning and spinning and spinning.

FYI, I was never asked for a WiFi password, but am aware that Apple can sometimes share that data between nearby devices. Regardless, the laptop is connected via ethernet anyway, so connectivity shouldn't be a problem

Yet, here I am. All dressed up and no where to go.

I'm all for this level of security, full stop, but when your Activation Authentication system doesn't work... that's where I get mad.

I'm mad.

Just not at all sure what to try next.......

Posted on Sep 21, 2026 3:24 PM

1 reply

heliokanat

Level 2 (354 points)

Nov 7, 2026 11:05 AM in response to Jeffrey Lee

A spinner that never errors out at that screen usually means the Mac cannot complete a clean conversation with Apple's activation servers, and after a full erase there are two classic causes, in the order I would check them: 1. The clock. A freshly erased Mac can boot with a wrong date, and with a wrong date the secure connection for activation fails silently, no error, just the gear. From the installer, open Utilities > Terminal and run:

date

If it is off, set it (format is month day hour minute year, so for Nov 7, 2026 at 11:30 AM):

date 110711302026

Then quit Terminal and try the activation again. 2. The network path. Do not rely on the assumed connection: join Wi-Fi explicitly from the menu bar in the installer so you know it is associated, and if your home network has any DNS filtering or a Pi-hole style blocker, test once through a phone hotspot instead. Activation needs Apple's servers (albert.apple.com and friends), and filtered DNS is famous for producing exactly this symptom, an endless spinner rather than a failure message.

And a way around the screen entirely if it still sticks: on another device go to iCloud.com/find, sign in with the same account, select this Mac in All Devices, and remove it from the account. That lifts Activation Lock from Apple's side. The installer should then sail past the activation step; you sign back into the account during setup and Find My re-enables from there.