To check if your MacBook Pro M4 has a firmware password enabled, you can follow these steps:
1. Boot into Recovery Mode: Restart your MacBook Pro and immediately hold down the Command (â) + R keys. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. If you have a firmware password set, you will be prompted to enter it before you can proceed further[5][7].
2. Check for Firmware Password Prompt: If you see a lock icon and a password field during boot, it indicates that a firmware password is enabled. If you don't see this prompt, it likely means there is no firmware password set[12].
3. Use the Firmware Password Utility: Once in Recovery Mode, go to the Utilities menu and select Startup Security Utility (for macOS High Sierra or later) or Firmware Password Utility (for earlier versions). If a firmware password is set, you will need to enter it to access this utility[5][11].
4. Check with Command Line (macOS 10.10 and Later): If you are running macOS 10.10 or a later version, you can use the Terminal in Recovery Mode to check if a firmware password is enabled. Run the command `sudo firmwarepasswd -check`. This will tell you if a password is set[12].
If you encounter a firmware password prompt during any of these steps, it means your MacBook Pro has a firmware password enabled. If you don't see a prompt, it likely does not have a firmware password set.
Additional Notes:
- Firmware passwords are not applicable to Macs with Apple silicon; instead, you would use FileVault for similar security[5].- If you forget your firmware password, you may need to visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider for assistance[5][10].
Citations:
[1] https://www.soti.net/mc/help/v15.2/en/console/devices/monitoring/securing/firmware_password_status_apple.html
[2] https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/need-to-remove-firmware-password/m-p/57431
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s2Bb83Bkl0
[4] https://reverse.put.as/2016/06/25/apple-efi-firmware-passwords-and-the-scbo-myth/
[5] https://support.apple.com/en-us/102384
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/linux4noobs/comments/18kde7q/putting_linux_on_your_mac_watch_out/
[7] https://www.easeus.com/computer-instruction/turn-off-firmware-password-on-mac.html
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/macsysadmin/comments/mcpmji/you_can_now_remove_the_firmware_password_all_data/
[9] https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/236456/how-to-check-if-a-firmware-password-is-enabled-in-os-x
[10] https://osxdaily.com/2015/01/28/forgot-mac-firmware-password-what-now/
[11] https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/what-is-a-firmware-password-on-mac-mchl126463db/mac
[12] https://community.jamf.com/t5/jamf-pro/how-can-i-tell-if-my-macbook-pro-has-a-firmware-password/m-p/209116