Once in Recovery, follow these steps:
Captive portals (like hotel or coffee shop Wi-Fi) or strict firewalls block the specific ports Apple uses for activation. activate mac failed to create activation request
Firewalls, captive portals (like hotel Wi-Fi), or unstable internet connections blocking Apple's servers. Once in Recovery, follow these steps: Captive portals
If standard troubleshooting fails, the issue may be rooted in deeper security or firmware conflicts. Activation Lock for Mac - Apple Support (IN) 11 Dec 2025 — Activation Lock for Mac - Apple Support (IN)
: If the error persists, users have reported success by clicking Recovery Assistant in the top-left menu bar and choosing Erase Mac again. This can "refresh" the internal state and allow a new activation request to trigger successfully.
Your Mac will restart automatically into a clean activation screen. Reconnect to a stable Wi-Fi network and try activating again. Step 4: Revive or Restore Firmware Using Apple Configurator