This article explains why a returned Mac may show an extremely long lockout timer (for example, “Try again in 25,945,723 minutes”) and how to successfully unlock the device.
Issue Summary
When attempting to unlock a returned employee device, you may see:
A lock screen message such as:
“This Mac is Locked”
“Try again in XXXXXXX minutes”
The unlock PIN shown in Swif.ai does not work, even though it appears correct in the console.
This commonly happens on macOS devices that have been offline or powered off for a long period.
Why This Happens (Root Cause)
The issue is usually not caused by an incorrect PIN.
Based on observed behavior, the most common root cause is:
The device lost accurate system time while being:
Powered off for an extended period, or
Kept offline without network access
macOS relies on system time to calculate lockout timers
When time is incorrect, macOS may:
Display an extremely large “try again in X minutes” value
Reject a valid PIN because the lock timer has not “expired” according to its clock
In this state, entering the correct PIN will continue to fail.
How to Fix the Issue (Recommended Solution)
✅ Solution: Connect the Device to the Internet via Ethernet
In most cases, simply restoring network connectivity will resolve the issue.
Steps:
Power on the locked Mac
Connect the device to the internet using a wired Ethernet cable
(This is strongly recommended over Wi-Fi for reliability at the lock screen)
Wait 30–60 seconds
The system will automatically:
Sync its system time
Recalculate the lock timer
Re-enter the unlock PIN shown in Swif.ai
Result:
The device should unlock successfully.
Confirmation
Once the device reconnects to the internet and time syncs correctly:
The lock screen timer normalizes
The previously displayed PIN works as expected
The user can log in normally
✅ Confirmed outcome:
“After connecting to an ethernet cable, that worked! I’m now able to log on to the laptop.”
Additional Notes & Best Practices
This issue is most common on:
Returned devices
Devices stored powered-off for weeks or months
Ethernet is recommended because:
Wi-Fi may not connect until after login
No PIN reset is required in most cases
The device does not need to be wiped or re-enrolled
When to Contact Support
If the issue persists after connecting to a wired network:
Verify the device appears online in Swif.ai
Confirm the lock command timestamp
Contact Swif.ai Support with:
Device serial number
Approximate lock time
Screenshot of the lock screen
Summary
Problem | Cause | Fix |
PIN doesn’t work, huge “try again in X minutes” | System time drift while offline | Connect to internet via Ethernet |
This quick network reconnect resolves the issue in the vast majority of cases.