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Macbook air: "allow user to administer this computer" button GREYED OUT in system preferences?

I just purchased a MacBook air and was trying to set up user preferences, however the button that would allow user to administer this computer is greyed out for some reason and it's also unchecked, so I can't really make any changes to the computer. Any tips on how I can get around this? This is my first MacBook so I'm kinda lost. Thanks!

Posted on Feb 17, 2020 9:30 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 17, 2020 10:50 PM

If the computer were previously owned and was left without preparation for new

owner to set it up properly, then that could result in situation such as you suggest.


Not enough is known or said here to draw any conclusion or offer real ideas.

(Also possible the user account was not admin; or has password on mac, etc.)


IF you did get a 'second-hand' mac that had not been de-personalized;

this article covers preliminary steps to do before selling a used mac.


• What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065



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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 17, 2020 10:50 PM in response to rosidale

If the computer were previously owned and was left without preparation for new

owner to set it up properly, then that could result in situation such as you suggest.


Not enough is known or said here to draw any conclusion or offer real ideas.

(Also possible the user account was not admin; or has password on mac, etc.)


IF you did get a 'second-hand' mac that had not been de-personalized;

this article covers preliminary steps to do before selling a used mac.


• What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065



Feb 20, 2020 3:17 AM in response to mulberry58

My reply made a leap under assumption that no user password

was available; &/or system is owned by another user.


Perhaps there had been security enabled; if so then an owner

could take proof of purchase, to Apple and ask for help.


Another maybe remote possibility, may be to try and set a new admin user;

if that could work to give admin rights to change the system. Otherwise it

could be locked in one of several ways.


To start in macOS Recovery, to see if the macbook would allow another

'owner' to try an erase and install ~ a new system.


• How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904


That's a stretch. ~ Could be leap of faith..🌻☃️



Macbook air: "allow user to administer this computer" button GREYED OUT in system preferences?

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