Unable to get verification code during macOS X reinstallation

skcrawford1 wrote:

Since I have none of those apps, I'm good to go with signing out. I've done the erasure and have been working on the reinstall when the issue happens.

For sure, my account was NOT the one associated with the initial set up of any of our church's Macs. I'm the one working on cleaning up all of the old devices to be used by someone else.

How are you attempting to reinstall macOS on them? Are you using Recovery Mode? If so, try using Command + Option + R which should theoretically allow you to reinstall the older macOS without requiring you to authenticate with an AppleID to prove a previous purchase, or if it supports Internet Recovery Mode it will possibly access a later version of the online macOS installer.

Or if one of these Macs is still working, then create a bootable macOS USB installer using the instructions in the following Apple article:

Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support

When you go to reinstall macOS, just make sure to erase the whole drive to wipe out the OS & any hidden recovery partition that may contain the AppleID purchase information associated with it. If you are installing macOS 10.11+, then you need to erase the whole physical drive....with macOS 10.13+ the physical drive is hidden by default.

If you are instead installing macOS 10.6 to 10.10, then you need to partition & format the whole physical drive as outlined in the following article:

https://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/formatting/Mac_Formatting_6-10.pdf

FYI, there should be no AppleID associated with an OS installation if it is not your own personal device....period. Don't start that cycle all over again.

If the Mac is still associated & managed by FindMy or an MDM, then there isn't anything you can do about it if the AppleID is not one you control. It is one of the dangers & risks with purchasing or acquiring used devices. My post here is if the AppleID is only associated with reinstalling macOS through local Recovery Mode.

Start by familiarizing yourself with Two-factor authentication for Apple Account - Apple Support.

There is no practicable way to circumvent its necessity. Therefore you must have at least one "trusted phone number" or "trusted device" on file with Apple.

Don't have either? I have been under the impression it is not possible to create an Apple Account without one. Did you create that Apple Account a long time ago, perhaps over a decade ago? It has been a requirement for a very long time. Refer to How to create a new Apple Account - Apple Support which describes Apple's most recent requirements. Step 5.

Still stuck? Scroll down to If you don’t have access to your trusted devices or trusted phone numbers in that first Support document.

I am confused because you wrote "My phone number, an android, is listed with my account" but then "my account has NO trusted devices listed."

So which is it?

I don't believe the answer matters though since no codes are being sent to any trusted devices. In that case If you don’t have access to your trusted devices or trusted phone numbers in About trusted phone numbers and trusted devices for Apple Account - Apple Support describes the actions you need to take. Four steps and then wait.

Perhaps you should back up a step and describe the reason you need to reinstall OS X on that old Mac. Determine its exact model designation and provide it.

Find your Mac model name and serial number - Apple Support

Please do not post its serial number to this site.

I surmise your Apple Account is different than the Apple Account associated with that particular iMac. Might that be a possibility?

Comply with as much of What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support as you are able to accomplish. In other words sign out of every Apple service (iCloud, iTunes, FaceTime etc) and then proceed with erasing it.

Thanks, that explains it.