Question 506 of 750
macOS Features and ToolseasyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Remotely Lock a Lost MacBook with Find My Mac

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of macos features and tools. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A school IT administrator needs to remotely lock a lost MacBook and display a custom message with contact information. The MacBook is enrolled in the school’s MDM and has an internet connection. Which macOS feature should they use?

Quick Answer

The answer is Find My Mac, the correct macOS feature to remotely lock a lost MacBook and display a custom message with contact information. This works because Find My Mac leverages Apple’s Activation Lock and iCloud infrastructure to send a lock command over the internet, allowing you to secure the device and show a personalized message on the login screen—even if the MacBook is enrolled in an MDM solution. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your knowledge of macOS security and recovery tools, often appearing alongside scenarios about lost or stolen devices. A common trap is confusing Find My Mac with the MDM’s remote lock feature; while both can lock the device, Find My Mac is the direct user-facing tool that does not require MDM enrollment for basic functionality. Remember the mnemonic “Find, Lock, Message” to recall that Find My Mac handles all three actions: locating, locking, and displaying a custom message.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

Find My Mac

Find My Mac is the correct feature because it is specifically designed to locate, lock, and display a custom message on a lost Apple device that is enrolled in MDM and connected to the internet. It leverages Apple's Activation Lock and MDM integration to remotely lock the Mac and present a contact message on the Lock screen, fulfilling the administrator's requirement without needing physical access.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Remote Desktop

    Why it's wrong here

    Apple Remote Desktop is for remote management of Macs on the same network, not for lost device tracking.

  • Find My Mac

    Why this is correct

    Find My Mac allows locking, erasing, and displaying a message on the lost device via iCloud.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • FileVault

    Why it's wrong here

    FileVault encrypts data but does not provide remote lock or location features.

  • Terminal command 'sudo pmset'

    Why it's wrong here

    pmset controls power management, not device tracking.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The A+ exam often tests the distinction between remote management tools (like Remote Desktop) and dedicated lost-device recovery features (like Find My Mac). Candidates may mistakenly assume that any remote access tool can perform the lock-and-message function, but only Find My Mac provides the specific lost-mode lock with custom message display.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Find My Mac uses Apple's Activation Lock mechanism, which ties the device to the user's Apple ID and MDM enrollment; when locked remotely, the device enforces a firmware-level lock that prevents unauthorized use even after a wipe. The custom message is stored in the device's NVRAM and displayed on the Lock screen via the Lost Mode framework, which also enables continuous location reporting. In a school environment, MDM can enforce Find My Mac as a mandatory feature via a configuration profile, ensuring all enrolled Macs are protected against loss.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
  • Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
  • Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

  • Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
  • Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

Quick reference

Access Control Model Comparison

ModelAcronymWho Controls Access?Best For
Discretionary Access ControlDACResource ownerSmall teams, file shares
Mandatory Access ControlMACSystem / security labelsClassified govt / military
Role-Based Access ControlRBACAdministrator (via roles)Enterprise environments
Attribute-Based Access ControlABACPolicy engine (user + resource attributes)Fine-grained, dynamic policies
Rule-Based Access ControlRuBACSystem rules / ACLsFirewall rules, network ACLs

What to study next

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

macOS Features and Tools — This question tests macOS Features and Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Find My Mac — Find My Mac is the correct feature because it is specifically designed to locate, lock, and display a custom message on a lost Apple device that is enrolled in MDM and connected to the internet. It leverages Apple's Activation Lock and MDM integration to remotely lock the Mac and present a contact message on the Lock screen, fulfilling the administrator's requirement without needing physical access.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.