#Apple serial number serial number
#Apple serial number update
#Apple serial number software
#Apple serial number free

The more I think about this, I wonder if the Mac ever had a serial number written to the logic board. They'll tell you if you need to remove the RAM/HD or if they can determine the issue / quote a possible repair if it's not software.

#Apple serial number free

If you are close to a free service like a Genius Bar, you might stop in with the Mini (no need for cables) and ask if they can have a brief look. Based on this result, you might reinstall the OS (if the serial shows under this command) - and even if this serial were missing, I might still try a reinstallation before taking it in for service. Towards the end of this listing should be a serial number field.

#Apple serial number software

The logic board should carry the serial number, so the logical and most likely conclusion would be software corruption or perhaps a failure of the logic board.Ĭheck in terminal to see if the system information is truly missing: system_profiler SPHardwareDataType Burned to a CD and booted, entered the correct Serial Number, and now iCloud, App Store etc.

#Apple serial number update

UPDATE Blank Board Serializer did the job. I'm going to rewrite the serial number to the firmware tonight and cross my fingers that it works! What was worse? We had the rubber base replaced under warranty (Apple admitted there were manufacturing issues where it would start to peel off) but of course the replacement base was without a serial number printed on it! By a stroke of luck and several hours of searching I found the support case online for the machine and luckily the serial number was registered there! Phew - we almost lost a perfectly good Mac's ability to use iCloud/App Store to this issue! And with no serial on the machine (and probably the wrong one/none on the new logic board) Apple had kind of screwed us there. However I have done this to several different macs without issues, so I suspect that the logic board replacement was the cause. I have added more RAM myself (Approved Kingston RAM, but not from Apple), and I've recently replaced the HDD with an SSD. They changed the logic board under warranty and it's been fine since. After 4 months the keyboard became buggy and would randomly lock the RETURN key in repeat. I can say that even though Apple won't admit or explain why this happens, I know every change made to this machine.

Didn't realise this until it refused to log in to iCloud, AppStore etc. My girlfriend's 2009 white MacBook lost it's serial number after upgrading to OS X El Capitan. If it is possible, this capability is likely to only be available to Apple engineers or support staff. I am not aware of any further documentation about restoring the serial number. Once the serial number has been lost there is no means to restore it to the machine.Īpple does not guarantee that all future systems will have a software-readable serial number.īoth of these cases illustrate why asset tracking software should always provide a way for a serial number to be entered manually. Apple does not document the specific details of how a machine can lose its serial number. Repairing a system by swapping hardware components is one reason this can happen. It is possible for a system to lose its serial number so that it will no longer appear either in System Profiler or the I/O Registry. Other reasons appear to be possible but Apple does not enumerate every cause: Caveats for using the serial number The technical note suggests the serial number can vanish if hardware components are changed. Technical Note 1103 warns developers not to rely on a serial number being available to uniquely identify a Mac. A lack of a visible serial number should not affect your Mac.Īpple does not guarantee a serial number will be set.