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I am trying to get into my old laptop I haven’t used in years and have no idea what the password is. It says I need a recovery key.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Please read If you forgot your Mac login password - Apple Support.
If you don't have a recovery key then it's not an option. Follow the above steps, and If you can't reset your Mac login password - Apple Support if you get to that point.
Since this is being encountered as part of the Mac password reset process, it’s asking for your File Vault Recovery Key.
File Vault being the whole-disk encryption scheme on your Mac.
This key would have been provided to - and hopefully recorded by - the individual who initially setup the laptop.
Hopefully that might help you remember where it might be recorded.
Without either the Recovery Key … or the password … your prospects for recovering any data on the laptop are quite bleak.
I am unable to access old laptop as its asking for recovery key
