Lost Mac password but have access to Apple Business manager

[Velvis]

A client has a Macbook that was enrolled in Apple Business Manager and has access to the ABM account. He does not have an admin password on the computer itself. The previous IT company hasn't replied to requests for it (they may not even have the password).

Is it possible to gain admin access to it via ABM?

 

[Sky-Knight]

A client has a Macbook that was enrolled in Apple Business Manager and has access to the ABM account. He does not have an admin password on the computer itself. The previous IT company hasn't replied to requests for it (they may not even have the password).

Is it possible to gain admin access to it via ABM?

ABM just establishes ownership, and also remands the endpoint to a management solution. The management solution can be leveraged to create an admin account, but ABM itself can only force a reset.

 

[Velvis]

ABM just establishes ownership, and also remands the endpoint to a management solution. The management solution can be leveraged to create an admin account, but ABM itself can only force a reset.

Do you mean I could make a Mac Admin account on the ABM website and then use that on the Mac?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Do you mean I could make a Mac Admin account on the ABM website and then use that on the Mac?

No, the ABM enrolls devices to a management platform. But THAT tool can make the admin account you need.

If the ABM is just by itself, it doesn't give you anything but remote wipe capabilities.

 

[Velvis]

Ok, so I plan on wiping the Mac and a few things came to mind:

1) I wanted to do a time machine backup of the non-admin user but it seems I need the admin password to do that. So I am just going to manually copy the user folder to a USB drive and then copy the data back. Is there a better way to do this?

2) The non-admin user account is not signed into an Apple account. Is there a way to check if the admin account is tied to an Apple account that may have Find My Mac turned on? (I dont want to wipe the Mac and then later realize I still need an admin password to complete it because Find My Mac is turned on via an account I don't have access to.