Stuck on Activate Mac Screen

What “Activate Mac” screen is?

The “Activate Mac” screen usually appears on an Apple computer after the device has undergone a factory reset. However, we’ve found it can also show when a macOS installation becomes corrupted, or after a failed software update. When we see it, the “Activate Mac” screen requires us to enter an Apple ID to authenticate the Mac on Apple’s servers. If Activation Lock is enabled, we must log in with the last Apple account that was used.

We’ve had some readers ask us how to change a MacBook lock screen after they get stuck on the “Activate Mac” screen. It’s important to note, however, that this isn’t just another type of lock screen on macOS; the “Activate Mac” screen means that the device needs to be authenticated again. The only way to get past this screen and into macOS is to reactivate the machine.

Possible causes of stuck “Activate Mac” screen issue

If the “Activate Mac” screen appears unexpectedly, or it seems stuck and we can’t get past it, it’s usually because there’s an issue that’s preventing the Mac from being activated. This could be caused by an unstable internet connection, a potential outage of Apple’s servers, or a problem being authenticated by Activation Lock if the device was previously locked to an Apple ID.

We’ve also discovered that users can get stuck on the “Activate Mac” screen when their macOS operating system somehow becomes corrupted, their startup disk is failing, or other software issues occur, like when we attempt to install a macOS update but it fails. Even if you know how to exit full screen on Mac, it won’t help you get past the “Activate Mac” error without authenticating your machine again.

A note from our experts: 

 

If you get stuck on the “Activate Mac” screen, and you’re unable to get past it, you can get immediate help from MacKeeper’s Premium Services. Our team of trained experts can help you diagnose and fix almost any macOS issue, and they’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Here’s how you can get support in just a few clicks:

1. Install MacKeeper for Mac.
2. When MacKeeper opens, select Premium Services in the sidebar, then click Chat Now.
3. In the chat box, describe the problem you’re dealing with to get expert help.

If our team is unable to diagnose your problem based on your description alone, we can use screen sharing on Mac to see what’s happening with your machine and provide the most effective fix.

When we recently had a user contact us when they were unable to fix a stuck “Activate Mac” screen, we found their macOS install was corrupted and required a fresh install. We walked them through the process from start to finish, successfully reactivating their Mac and getting it running normally again. We can help you do the same while your screen is being observed to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

How to fix stuck on “Activate Mac” screen?

To fix a stuck “Activate Mac” screen, we suggest that you first make sure you have a stable internet connection (use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi is possible), then restart your Mac by holding down the power button until you see the Apple logo. If this doesn’t boot you back into normal macOS, you can follow learn how to reinstall macOS from our blog, which will fix any files that might have been corrupted.

Here are the steps to follow when you get stuck on the “Activate Mac” screen:

1. Check your internet connection to ensure it’s reliable. You can use sites like speedtest.net to see your connection speed and stability.
2. Hold down the power button until you see the Apple logo to restart your Mac.
3. When you see the “Activate Mac” screen again, log in with your Apple ID. If your Mac was previously activated, you’ll need to use the same Apple ID again to reactivate and unlock it, otherwise you’ll be blocked by Activation Lock.
4. If your Mac now activates, you should boot into macOS, and it’ll continue to operate normally, suggesting a bad internet connection was the issue all along. If it doesn’t activate, it may be that your operating system is corrupted, in which case, we recommend following our instructions on how to reinstall macOS from Recovery mode.

Before reinstalling macOS, check Apple’s System Status page to ensure all its services are running normally. Activation issues occasionally occur when the Apple servers are experiencing issues, so it’s a good idea to rule out a possible server outage first.

Conclusion

When your MacBook is frozen on the “Activate Mac” screen, it’s usually because the device can’t connect to Apple’s servers to be reauthorized. Check your internet connection and try restarting to see if that fixes the issue, and make sure Apple’s servers aren’t experiencing an outage. If this doesn’t work, you may need to reinstall macOS to fix any broken or missing system files.

If you’re unable to reactivate your Mac and you need assistance, get in touch with our expert team through MacKeeper’s Premium Services. We’ll walk you through the process of figuring out what’s causing the issue and then how to fix it. We’re available 24/7, always respond quickly, and can also help you with any other issue your Mac might be facing.