© GetHuman Inc.

How Do I Unlock My Apple Account?

In a nutshell: An Apple account serves as a storage space where users can maintain personal photos, videos, and apps downloaded and then installed in the Apple Store. However, when a lockout occurs, it can be annoying and devastating for users who rely on it to keep their information readily available for use and safe. Since user accounts are linked to various features, including iCloud, FaceTime, and in-app purchases, a restriction is a frustrating obstacle, especially if essential data becomes inaccessible. Whether a security breach has occurred or a verification attempt fails, users must start the unlocking process to reclaim their personal accounts.

Introduction

An Apple account serves as a storage space where users can maintain personal photos, videos, and apps downloaded and then installed in the Apple Store. However, when a lockout occurs, it can be annoying and devastating for users who rely on it to keep their information readily available for use and safe. Since user accounts are linked to various features, including iCloud, FaceTime, and in-app purchases, a restriction is a frustrating obstacle, especially if essential data becomes inaccessible. Whether a security breach has occurred or a verification attempt fails, users must start the unlocking process to reclaim their personal accounts.

What You'll Need

Although many users lose access to their accounts, Apple implements the lock as a security measure for their safety. Three main reasons for the occurrence are hacking issues, reaching the failed login attempt limit, or unauthorized access by a non-user. Also, Apple is programmed to detect and flag suspicious or unusual activity it doesn’t recognize.

Apple provides its users with professional tools that help them reclaim their ID profiles. Therefore, if you receive a message notifying you that your account is locked for security reasons, you must act quickly to prove your ownership.

Visit the Apple website and sign in to your user account.

Scroll down to the footer and click the ‘Contact Apple’ link under the ‘Apple Values’ category title.

You should see the Contacting Apple title on the next page. Scroll down and choose the blue ‘Get Started’ link under the ‘Help from Apple Support’ subtitle.

Select the ‘Apple Support’ icon under the ‘Get Help for your devices’ subtitle, and read the next page.

Click the ‘Disabled Apple Account’ button under the ‘What’s going on?’ title, and scroll down.

Choose the ‘This account is locked’ alert button and then continue.

Follow the instructions to unlock your account.

Apple Support will not unlock your account without verification. You must provide information to confirm your identity after clicking the ‘Get Started’ button. This is required to let the company know that you are who you claim to be and not a hacker or an identity thief.

After you regain account access, consider updating your security settings frequently (such as changing your password every several months or using a security key) to prevent future lockouts. Also, check your registered devices list, and delete any mobile phones or tablets you no longer use. Another layer of security is two-factor authentication (2FA), which protects your account from intrusion and also ensures your data remains secure. This is important to activate because it prevents attempts to tap into your dashboard or steal your password. 2FA also acts as a padlock that blocks unauthorized access and keeps intruders from viewing your data and recent logins.

Conclusion

Glitches and slow response times are common issues that can prevent users from starting the account unlocking process. If you notice you can’t progress past the identity verification stage, or the automation tools are malfunctioning, especially when attempting to resolve technical bugs yourself, you must contact Apple’s technical department immediately. The company connects users with specialists who are experienced and skilled in finding effective solutions for issues. The best way to communicate with a representative is via phone, which is ideal for detailing your issue and receiving priority assistance from a live technician. The average waiting time is two minutes.

Further questions?

Ask a followup or related question and we will try to provide an answer in seconds.
Adam has been tirelessly trying to help customers find the best tips and tricks to get through phone trees and writing many guides for prickly customer service problems. He's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inside Edition and Bloomberg.

Why does GetHuman Write How-to Guides for Apple Problems?

GetHuman has been working for over 10 years on sourcing information about big organizations like Comcast in order to help customers resolve customer service issues faster. We started with contact information and fastest ways to reach a human at big companies. Particularly ones with slow or complicated IVR or phone menu systems. Or companies that have self-serve help forums instead of a customer service department. From there, we realized that consumers still needed more detailed help solving the most common problems, so we expanded to this set of guides, which grows every day. And if you spot any issues with our What do I do if my Xfinity TV or internet is out? guide, please let us know by sending us feedback. We want to be as helpful as possible. If you appreciated this guide, please share it with your favorite people. Our free information and tools is powered by you, the customer. The more people that use it, the better it gets.

Apple

Asked 3 years ago
Updated a day ago
Viewed 1,235,471 times
Apple account issue
locked out of Apple account

Paying Your Telecom Too Much?

After helping consumers for 10 years, we realized that you need an impartial, live person you can talk to about comparing the various TV, cable, Internet and phone plans in your area- somebody who can compare the best deals across telecom providers. So we created a free concierge service you can call at the phone number below.

Call Anytime: 888-379-2546Our concierge is unaffiliated and therefore able to compare deals across many companies
Was this page helpful?YesNeeds work
Sharing is what powers GetHuman's free customer service contact information and tools. You can help!