Hello, I was given a mid 2012 Mac Pro Tower. If I sign in with my Apple ID will that render access to the prior owners applications? For example Final Cut?
thanks and happy Holidays!
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: Will signing
MacOS is not copy-protected in the usual sense:
Apple software downloaded from the Mac App Store, including MacOS, is not copy protected. However, it IS tagged with the Apple-ID of the purchaser when "purchased" (or equivalent — Think of MacOS as purchased on sale for $0.) A valid Apple-ID is required for almost all downloads from the Mac App Store.
You cannot update, upgrade, or install new software based on already-installed software UNLESS your Mac supplies the Apple-ID of the original software.
If your old MacOS is damaged, or you completely erased your Mac, the Apple-ID is not available, and you get the “cannot contact the server…” message that should go on to say, “…with the Apple-ID provided or NO Apple-ID”.
MacOS is not copy-protected in the usual sense:
Apple software downloaded from the Mac App Store, including MacOS, is not copy protected. However, it IS tagged with the Apple-ID of the purchaser when "purchased" (or equivalent — Think of MacOS as purchased on sale for $0.) A valid Apple-ID is required for almost all downloads from the Mac App Store.
You cannot update, upgrade, or install new software based on already-installed software UNLESS your Mac supplies the Apple-ID of the original software.
If your old MacOS is damaged, or you completely erased your Mac, the Apple-ID is not available, and you get the “cannot contact the server…” message that should go on to say, “…with the Apple-ID provided or NO Apple-ID”.
Here is what the previous owner should have done before giving the Mac to you:
What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
Even if the previous owner did all those things, the new owner should start at the "Erase" steps just to make sure it is done correctly, plus it can reveal possible issues with the computer.
For a system with a Hard Drive, then it would be best to perform a secure erase so that the whole drive is overwritten with zeroes to destroy all the data from the previous owner (Disk Utility "erase" has an option for the secure erase). I personally would not want their data hidden away on my drive for multiple reasons.
Without access to the Apple Account that downloaded the apps, you’ll get tangled with app updates and related details., too.
You’ll get tangled with downloads more generally anyway, as macOS support for that Mac is forever limited to 10.14.
You will be able to access the apps installed on the Mac but not the data that is stored in the previous owner's user account.
So that you would have full access to that Mac with the ability to fully administer and customize it for your own use, the previous owner should have done this: What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
Can I access previous owner's applications after signing in with my Apple ID on a mid 2012 Mac Pro?
