Activation Lock
An Apple security feature that ties a Mac to the original owner's Apple ID; if it isn't disabled before transfer, the new owner can't set up the device.
Activation Lock is Apple's anti-theft system for Macs with Apple Silicon or a T2 Security Chip. When Find My is enabled on a Mac, Activation Lock engages automatically. Even after a factory reset, the Mac will demand the original Apple ID's password before allowing Setup Assistant to proceed.
For a buyer, Activation Lock is the single biggest risk in any private Mac transaction. A locked Mac is functionally a brick: you can power it on, but you can't sign in, you can't reset it, and Apple will not unlock it without proof you're the rightful owner. The seller has to disable Find My and sign out of iCloud on the Mac before the transfer; once that's done, Activation Lock clears.
Before paying, ask the seller to demonstrate one of these: the Mac boots into Setup Assistant's Hello screen without prompting for an Apple ID (recorded on video), a Macfax report showing Activation Lock off, or a hands-on inspection.
Macfax flags Activation Lock state on every report. A report cannot be issued on a Mac with Activation Lock on without an explicit override flow.
Find My Mac
Apple's location-tracking service for Macs; enabling it automatically activates Activation Lock.
MDM enrollment
An administrative state that lets an organization remotely manage and lock a Mac; commonly missed in private resales and can render the device unusable to the new owner.
Secure Enclave
A separate security coprocessor inside Apple Silicon and T2-equipped Intel Macs; holds private keys, performs cryptographic operations, and is inaccessible from the main OS.
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