This happens due to you having iCloud Keychain enabled. The Keychain is end-to-end encrypted so that Apple cannot decrypt the contents of your keychain on their servers.

When you add a new computer to your iCloud account, it tries to download the keychain to that computer. The contents cannot however be accessed with just the iCloud password - you will need to give the passphrase for the old device. Even though that device is really not around anymore, it was used to protect the Keychain originally, so its passphrase can help you unlock it now.

Note: The Keychain is not somehow "permanently" linked to your old computer. Now that you have started using your new computer, you do not need the old computer's passphrase anymore. If you choose to add new devices later, you will be asked to enter the passphrase of your new computer instead.

Answer from jksoegaard on Stack Exchange
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253246226
Previous owner ID is still linked to my m… - Apple Community
I posted about that in a not-"recommended" response which tells you a bit more about what ... I cannot access my macbook anymore because it went to recovery assistant. Is there any way i could get his email address? but i'm pretty sure he logged out before he gave it to me. does this mean i cannot use it anymore? T.T ... There is nothing you can do about it without contacting him and asking him to remove your macbook from his list of linked devices.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254126192
This Mac is Linked to A Different Apple ID
You need the Apple ID and password that was used when the device was first set up. If you don’t know that, you can’t remove the Activation Lock. If this is a used device, the previous owner needs to go to https://www.icloud.com/find/ and erase the device, then remove it from their account.
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Tenorshare
tenorshare.com › home › tenorshare 4mekey › [solved!] how to fix this mac is linked to an apple id
This Mac is Linked to an Apple ID? Quick Fixes Here
January 13, 2025 - So, if you want to unlink your Apple ID from the laptop, then you first need to login to your iCloud, remove the Mac from the list of linked devices and then move forward to logging out. Another reason is that you have forgotten your Apple ID's password, and you cannot recover it because you have forgotten the security questions or any other alternate form of recovery.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254499715
2019 MacBook Air Locked to different Apple ID
I have factory reset it and when it goes to "Activate MacBook" it says "This Mac is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that was previously used with this Mac."
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253725664
About Apple Id - Apple Community
825 3 ... You need the Apple ID ... Activation Lock. If this is a used device, the previous owner needs to go to https://www.icloud.com/find/ and erase the device, then remove it from their account....
Top answer
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This happens due to you having iCloud Keychain enabled. The Keychain is end-to-end encrypted so that Apple cannot decrypt the contents of your keychain on their servers.

When you add a new computer to your iCloud account, it tries to download the keychain to that computer. The contents cannot however be accessed with just the iCloud password - you will need to give the passphrase for the old device. Even though that device is really not around anymore, it was used to protect the Keychain originally, so its passphrase can help you unlock it now.

Note: The Keychain is not somehow "permanently" linked to your old computer. Now that you have started using your new computer, you do not need the old computer's passphrase anymore. If you choose to add new devices later, you will be asked to enter the passphrase of your new computer instead.

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Could it be that you forgot to sign out of iCloud on the 2019 MacBook Pro from your former job?

When setting up a new device, if iCloud Keychain is active, you will be asked to type the login password or passcode of another device that you are signed in to with your Apple ID, see Approve a device to use iCloud Keychain for details.

If you forgot to sign out of iCloud on one of your devices and have given the device away, it could happen that Apple asks you to type the password of that device. In this case, you will have to manually remove the device, as explained in this support article: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205064. For example, using the Apple ID website:

  1. Sign in to your Apple ID account page (https://appleid.apple.com), then scroll to Devices.

  2. Click the device to see its details, then click "Remove from account."

  3. Review the message that appears.

  4. Click again to confirm that you want to remove the device.

For more information on how Apple designs security, see the Apple Platform Security website.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/sysadmin › apple id even after erasing mac
r/sysadmin on Reddit: Apple ID even after Erasing Mac
March 13, 2023 -

So i’m working as IT support and in this new company i’ve never had experience to troubleshoot Mac, fuck, i’ve never seen in my country that someone using Mac.

So, its not that hard to be Mac administrator but here is a problem that i saw first time today. I had to wipe one laptop and to install a new MacOS and for some reason even after wiping and cleaning HD they are still asking me to put Apple ID which is weird because i don’t have it ( guy left company ) and even after erasing Mac it’s still asking me to put apple ID.

My HR department sent him e-mail but i doubt he will tell us his password so my question is what should i do next ? If i try to reinstall MacOS from USB stick, will i still have same problem ?

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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253468705
Cannot access internet recovery mode beca… - Apple Community
Was your Mac previously owned by someone else? If so, are you able to get in contact with them? The Apple ID and password that were used to turn on Activation Lock will be needed to turn it off. Learn more here: How to remove Activation Lock. If you have proof of ownership, you can request ...
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YouTube
youtube.com › 5-minute videos
What to Do If Your Returned MacBook Is Locked to an Apple ID - YouTube
Apple's Activation Lock, a built-in security feature designed to keep your device secure
Published   November 25, 2024
Views   223
Find elsewhere
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 252997403
Company macbook is linked to an Apple ID … - Apple Community
Nothing shows if I choose Start up disc so maybe she already erased the disc. In any event, whatever I try nothing happens that helps. I get: Activate Mac> Choose WiFi> Then Activation Lock "this mac is linked to an apple ID. Enter the apple ID and password that was previously used with this Mac...
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TunesKit
tuneskit.com › unlock-ios › this-device-is-already-associated-with-an-apple-account.html
This Device is Already Associated with An Apple Account? Fixed!
August 11, 2025 - For most users, this error appears because the device was previously associated with another Apple ID, triggering a security timer. It refers to Media & Purchases association, not your iCloud sign-in.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254261175
Activation Lock - Apple Support does not … - Apple Community
It demanded (and still demands) from me “the last ID that was previously used on this Mac”, which is, indeed and in fact, my Apple ID starting with the letter “f”. The computer asks for a different ID starting with the initial letter “t” as in “t*****@gmail.com” instead. Funny stuff about this part is that I can see from my iPhone that my MacBook is linked to my ID, even though it says it wants a different ID. I also tried to use the device password, but due to the fact i was stressed out and did not notice different keyboard settings than I’m used to (I’m Slovak), I entered it too many times incorrectly.
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YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How do I get rid of someone else’s Apple ID on my Mac? Factory Reset without using Apple ID password - YouTube
Don’t know the password or Apple ID , don’t worry, just follow this videoFactory Reset Old Mac: https://youtu.be/0-BAvXH38fI
Published   February 8, 2021
Views   447K
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Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 102541
Activation Lock for Mac - Apple Support
Use the Erase All Content and Settings feature to erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings. If your previously owned Mac shows an Activation Lock window that asks for someone else's Apple Account, the previous owner may need to remove Activation Lock for you.
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TokyoDev
tokyodev.com › articles › not-setting-up-find-my-bricked-my-macbook
Not setting up Find My bricked my MacBook | TokyoDev
October 13, 2023 - This Mac is linked to an Apple ID. Enter the Apple ID and password that was previously used with this Mac.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254248809
Enter password for other MacBook Pro when… - Apple Community
I assumed this was the same password as before, but I got a popup asking to "Enter the passcode you use to unlock <OTHER_MACHINE>, which is not the password for this MacBook Pro". Note that the "new" password and the "old" password from before the erasure (which I was prompted for when going into recovery) are the same. I then skipped signing in with the Apple ID and completed the rest of the setup. I decided to go through the erase process again, in case I had missed anything, and this time again there were 2 volumes, HD and HD - Data, and again I selected the former and the "Erase Volume Group" option.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254327936
this mac is linked to a different Apple ID but shows my ...
Asks to log in previos Apple ID that was used with this mac and shows part of email with dots. I know this email. It's my Apple ID and shown letters matched. I start to log in and receive red error message "this mac is linked to a different Apple ID". I checked many times this mac is absent in list of devices on iCloud Found My and Apple ID trusted devices on https://appleid.apple.com/ Unfortunetly I don't remember mac user's password and now it says that I tried to many times with incorrect one.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255131843
How to unlink Apple ID from a MacBook Air? - Apple Community
Each Apple device is linked/associated with an Apple ID of the person who did the setup. Activation Lock prevents anyone who is not the owner from using this Mac. To unlock the Mac, you need the Apple ID and password of the previous owner, that were used during set up.
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254463021
How do I recover a mac if I am not in control of the Apple ID
Nothing shows if I choose Start up disc so maybe she already erased the disc. In any event, whatever I try nothing happens that helps. I get: Activate Mac> Choose WiFi> Then Activation Lock "this mac is linked to an apple ID. Enter the apple ID and password that was previously used with this Mac...
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Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255925809
MacBook shows 'Linked to a Different Appl… - Apple Community
How do I get my MacBook Pro to use the new password? 970 2 · Apple ID reset for MacBook Pro I’ve already reset my Apple id to login to my MacBook Pro but the new password still doesn’t work. Do I need to wait hours/ days for it to work or call to get it reset again? 1868 3 ... This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers. MacBook shows 'Linked ...