apple-idmac-appstore
I am trying to update to El Capitan. I am being asked for my Apple ID and password. I entered both correctly however I am being asked to enter a verification code after the password (see screenshot). This makes no sense, it's absurd, and very unlike Apple. Any thoughts on how to fix this?
Note: I updated the password using the 2-step verification process, but the new password still does not work.
I missed it the first time. It should be at the top. of the the Security page.
It looks like you've done more than the expected basic troubleshooting (reboot, try debug mode, single user, try the same AppleID from a new user account) and you're looking at either a cascading failure (multiple caches or multiple keychains with bad signing data) or some lower system level failure in the code signing / update / permissions.
If you bring a second Apple ID to the app store app on this Mac and you can't sign in with two accounts - the conclusion would be that the OS is the problem.
If you can use the Apple ID you want on this Mac on another Mac to sign in to the store - you can rule out network issues and a problem with the intended Apple ID.
I would probably download the Server app from a new OS (you could boot to recovery and install OS X cleanly onto a USB or other external drive and use the Mini or you could use a different Mac entirely. Once you have the correct Server downloaded - transfer it to the problematic Mac and see if it can launch.
At that point, I'd probably get a good backup of the server and consider an outage to nuke and pave:
wikiadmin command is beefed up recently - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206232If you really want to dig in, maybe run the latest combo installer, but in truth - server app is running all the services in a "pause/wait/hold" pattern since the OS updated and the server needs to run all the migration steps - so most of the help in the net isn't geared for a system in your state.
Best Answer
This is perfectly normal behavior for an account that has Two Step Verification enabled.
In order to have enabled it, you must have a trusted device enrolled that can receive either SMS or be found by "Find My Phone" because that's the device which will receive the verification code you enter after your password. So, just enter the verification code that Apple sent to that trusted device after your password and you will be able to access the Mac App Store.
How do I turn off two-step verification?