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Your Apple ID has been locked for security reasons: 3 Easy Ways to Fix it!
Your Apple ID has been locked for security reasons, how do you unlock it? Your Apple ID unlocks your entire iUniverse… from your iPhone to iCloud, it controls email, contacts, Apple store purchases, iTunes, and more. Getting locked out can put a severe hamper on your digital freedoms.
There are several reasons you may be locked out of your Apple ID:
- You typed in your password incorrectly too many times. We’ve all done it. You forget your password – usually because you haven’t used it in so long and get locked out after trying all 17 versions. It’s time to get a password keeper or start using iCloud Keychain.
- Someone entered your security questions (or other account information) too many times
- Your account has been compromised, and the hacker(s) changed your password.
Either way, if you enter too many wrong guesses, you will see alerts that say:
- “This Apple ID has been disabled for security reasons.”
- “You can’t sign in because your account was disabled for security reasons.”
- “This Apple ID has been locked for security reasons.”
HOW MANY PASSWORD GUESSES ARE TOO MANY?
How many failed attempts do users have before their account is locked? Apple’s official answer is “3 to 5,” although even that is not verified. The reason is for security, but of course, it’s a pain for people who are just trying to download some music from iTunes. If your Apple ID password is not working or you’ve forgotten it, never try to guess more than three times, or you could go to what we like to call “iJail.”
How to Unlock your Apple ID
Apple offers several alternatives to recovering your Apple ID if you get locked out. Unlocking your Apple ID usually means you have to reset your password. We’ve put several ways to do this below with all of the steps to make it easy for you. However there are some cases where you will be locked out for a period of time. In this case there isn’t much you can do but wait it out. You will know if you have been locked out for a specific time period because you will see it on the alert that says you are locked out. In this case it is best to wait it out. Apple usually will unlock your account automatically after a short period of time.
Here are some surefire ways on how to unlock Apple ID:
Method 1: Reset your Password on your iPhone or Mac
The easiest way to unlock your Apple ID is to reset your password through your settings. There are several ways to do this depending on the device you are using.
- On your iphone: Go to Settings > Click on your NAME (Apple ID) >Sign-In & Security > Change Password
- On your Mac: Open the SETTINGS application or click on the APPLE LOGO in the top left corner of your screen and click “System Settings”. From there Click on your NAME (Apple ID) > Password & Security > Change Password
Then simply follow the prompts to change your password. If you don’t have your Apple device, maybe it was lost or stolen, then you can always reset your password from a new device when you are setting it up, use a friends device or even go to the Apple Store and use one of theirs.
Method 2: Reset your password on the web at iforgot.apple.com
With iforgot you can use your emai address or phon number to reset your password. Using a secure browser (not a public computer) go to iforgot.apple.com and follow the prompts.
It is easier to change/recover your password BEFORE you get to this point, but that doesn’t mean you’re free to go. Remember that once you have changed your password you will need to update it on all of your Apple devices and any Apple services that you sign into with your Apple ID.
Method 3: Contact Apple Support
If all else fails then it is time to contact Apple Support. Go to their contact page and choose the phone number in your region and one of their reps will help you. Be ready to verify your identity through one of your security methods.
What happens if you enter the wrong password too many times on a Mac: Apple’s Harsh Sentencing Practices:
If you get locked out and remember your password later, you can try logging in again after 8 hours. Otherwise, follow instructions for password recovery/reset found at iforgot.apple.com. But you’re not ready to pass “Go” just yet… According to Apple, “After multiple unsuccessful attempts to unlock your account, your Apple ID will remain locked, and you can try the next day again.” In other words, you get to enjoy a 24-hour stint in Apple jail. We’ve seen a client get locked out of their account for 20 days!
It gets complicated if you have trouble verifying your account during the password recovery process. In theory, as long as you have the answers to your security questions or access to your primary or recovery emails, you should be okay, but not necessarily. Clients have experienced lockouts even while accessing their email and verifying their identity on the phone with Apple support. In some cases, Apple has incarcerated users behind virtual bars for up to two weeks! Since hackers’ goals are primarily to disrupt and steal, some may feel that Apple is essentially rewarding hackers by not allowing an immediate route for their paying customers to reactivate their accounts. That is why it is so important to set up alternative ways to recover your Apple ID. In today’s world of constant cyber attacks, it may mean the difference between losing your Apple ID and everything in your iCloud, and saving you from a lot of hassle and anxiety.
Punish criminals, not customers. Security is not Secure when Users can’t Use.
8 Tips to Avoid your Apple ID has been locked for security reasons
Securing your Mac before a problem happens is the easiest way to avoid getting locked out of your Apple ID. These security tips will help ensure you can recover your account if it does happen. Using several of these methods is recommended, but even one could make all the difference. Please note that the steps below are written for iPhone users. If you are going to the settings on a Mac, then where you see “Sign-In & Security,” look for “Password & Security” instead.
- Use a secure password: Make sure criminals can’t access your account in the first place by using a secure password.
- Set up Two-Factor Authentication: Use two-factor authentication whenever possible. To do this, go to Settings > Click your NAME (Apple ID) > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication.
- Passkeys: Set up Passkeys and use a physical security key like Yubico.
- Set up a Recovery Key: You can set up a Recovery Key in Settings > Click on your NAME (Apple ID) > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery > Recovery Key. Make sure to PRINT it out and store a hard copy somewhere safe. Do NOT save it in your Notes app.
- Recovery Contacts: This is simply someone that you trust who can help you recover your Apple ID if you are ever locked out or hacked. To add an Account Recovery person, open your Settings > Click on your NAME (Apple ID) > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery > Add Recovery Contact.
- Add a trusted phone number: To add a trusted phone number, go to the settings on a Mac (if you have an iPhone, your phone number should already be there, and you can skip this). On your Mac, open the SETTINGS application or click on the APPLE LOGO in the top left corner of your screen and click “System Settings.” From there, click on your NAME (Apple ID) > Password & Security > Trusted Phone Numbers. Click the “+” symbol at the bottom of the box and add the phone number. Apple will send you a verification code to your phone to verify the number is yours.
- Know your Security Questions: Know all your security questions. Keep a secure paper file with all your pertinent information. If you elect to keep a hard paper copy, treat it like cash and keep it in a fireproof safety security lockbox.
- Watch out for Hackers: One of the easiest ways (besides an insecure password – see #1 above) to get locked out of your Apple ID is through phishing scams and suspicious emails. Beware of emails that employ a sense of urgency to click a link. Always double-check the FROM email to make sure it is from the actual company it claims to be from. Download with caution. Do not discount phone scams. We know someone who was supposedly ‘called’ by a social media site (whose name we can’t say but ends with ‘book’) claiming their account was hacked and then convinced our friend to hand over complete remote control of his iPhone. In case you are wondering – that social media site would NEVER call you. Ever.
Doing these simple things will save you a ton of hassle from being put in ‘iJail’ in the future. In terms of digital security, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Looking for Mac IT Support in Nashville TN?
We hope this information has helped you to understand what happens when your Apple ID has been locked for security reasons and avoid getting locked out. At MacHelpNashville, we understand how frustrating it can be to navigate today’s ever-changing world of technology. That’s why we offer IT support specifically for Mac users. If you need help unlocking your Apple ID, sync issues, new device setup, server or network serup, WiFi support, backup or recovery, speed & optimization, cybersecurity, or pretty much anything Apple-related, chat with our experts today. Mac Help Nashville provides remote, in-home tech support, and on-site IT services to get your tech running smoothly and make your tech problems disappear!
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