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Help! After 2.5 years, my Mac no longer recognizes my Apple ID when I try to connect to my iCloud. I actually changes my Apple ID, and it works on my phone and iPad, but NOT my Mac. Any ideas why??
Hi TaraDK,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities! I see you're having an issue with your Apple ID on your Mac for iCloud, and I'd like to do what I can to help.
Has your Mac always been signed in with just the one Apple ID? Or was it previously signed in with this other one?
Do you recognize the other Apple ID?
Why was your Mac signed out of your Apple ID for iCloud?
Did you recently change your Apple ID email address? If you changed your Apple ID email address, did you sign out of all Apple services before making the change, as shown here? Change your Apple ID
Go ahead and sign out of the Apple ID shown, then restart your Mac, then sign in with your Apple ID. Was the sign in successful this time?
Thanks!
Hey TaraDK,
Thanks for the reply and clarification, we appreciate it!
No worries, let's see if we can figure out what's happening.
When you go to Apple Logo > System Preferences > iCloud (Or Apple ID, if using macOS Catalina) > Does it show that you are already signed in? Or does it show "Sign In", or a notice that you need to sign in?
Does it show your Apple ID email address spelled correctly?
If it shows that you are already signed in, follow the steps in this article to sign out and back in: What to do after you change your Apple ID or password Scroll down to "iCloud" and then "Mac".
If you aren't able to sign back in, what happens? Is there an error message? If so, what does it say? Please don't include any personal information.
Test if you can sign in to the iCloud website using Safari. Are you successful there?
If so, restart your Mac and try at System Preferences again.
Thank you again!
2.Yes, my Apple ID email is spelled correctly.
3.Yes, when I sign in using what I know to be the correct password, I get an error message:
As you can see, though, it doesn't give me the specifics, just that an error has occurred.
4.Yes, I was able to sign into the website of iCloud without any problem, just as I can with my iPhone and iPad.
5.When I signed in, I immediately restarted my computer as suggested. However, when I attempted to use the password in System Preferences, it STILL does not recognize my password.
Thank you...and please advise further action.
Hi TaraDK,
Thanks again for the reply. That screenshot was just what we needed, as now we know it's iMessage which is having issues.
This article has troubleshooting steps to follow. If you can't sign in to your iMessage account or FaceTime on your Mac
Some of these steps you've already done, so please do the remaining steps.
Even if FaceTime is working, when you get to the "Check your Apple ID" section, sign out and back in to both apps, as the steps indicate.
Thank you for your patience!
Thank you for your response. I followed the recommended steps:
4.My software is up to date:
5.My Apple ID and password are working on my iPhone and iPad, but when I would try to find iMessage under my system preferences on my Mac, they aren't even recognized on the search feature. FaceTime got the same search result:
6.The NVRAM settings seemed normal
7.No 3rd party software showed up, as I do not currently have a firewall, etc. Although I do have to frequently delete this:
8.In general, when I first start my computer, or try to access my Apple ID account, these are the warnings I receive:
9.Whatever I try to do, such as sign into FaceTime or iMessage, I get the same error message:
It's as though my Mac no longer recognizes my Apple ID password AT ALL.
10.Should I resort to changing my Apple ID? I tried changing the password, and even though I changed it 3 times my Mac never recognized any of the passwords associated with my Apple ID email address.
Any other ideas?
Thanks!
Hi TaraDK,
Thank you or sharing those screenshots. They again were very helpful.
First thing, please do not create a new Apple ID, as that will cause loss of any associated purchased items and won't resolve this issue.
It looks like you've inadvertently installed some malware, which can happen with Safari pop-ups and other notices. The "TechFunctionSearch" profile is what I'm referring to. Here's some info on malware:
How to block pop-ups in Safari
There is a great free program which can scan for malware and adware and then remove it for you. Download the free version and follow the instructions included: Malwarebytes for Mac
We need to get that profile removed permanently, and MalwareBytes should be able to do that for us.
Since this malware is a profile, you may want to start up in safe mode first, then go to the MalwareBytes page to download. Safe mode will prevent login items and other things from starting up with your Mac. How to use safe mode on your Mac
Keep in mind, it may take longer to finish the start up, as safe mode does some system checks, and can sometimes resolve other types of issues. You'll also see some differences in the display. This is expected with safe mode, and when you restart normally, they'll be gone.
If you have any difficulty with this process, or need additional assistance, I'd recommend contacting Apple Support. Let them know what's happening, what you've done so far, so they can assist.
You've got this! Take care!
You are still using Mac OS catalina 10.15.3 , update to 10.15.4 , there was an additional supplementary update see the article https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201541
After changing the password , every settings in system preferences ( has to be updated ) > click on Apple ID icon .
Start from overview till media and purchases in the side bar ( the data is to be once again added in each and is to be updated ) .
See this article https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchlbf8fdc51/mac
In the bottom of it read first three articles click on them and follow them .
Do you use two factor authentication account or still using secondary authentication account ( in which three answers for security questions / date of birth / rescue mail address and its password is added ) .
The payment information has to be updated once again see the articles https:/https://support.apple.com/en-in/H
https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT203005
You can create a new test user account and check that the problem persists https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT204443
Also, interestingly enough...I just restarted my computer after going down that recommended checklist above. I continued to get the same "unknown error" message for updating Apps and FaceTime, but for some reason my Mac allowed me to connect to iMessages this time--even though it initially said it "had a problem with the Apple ID". Who knows if it will work the next time I sign on or sign off.
So right now, these are the error messages in iTunes, which are the same if I try FaceTime, that I'm dealing with:
Thank you for any advice I can get.
Thank you for your response. To reply to your suggestions:
When I click on updates, I do not receive an indication that I need the 10.15.4 update:
But even if it did, because my Mac is not recognizing my Apple ID Password, I cannot download any updates:
I decided to try once again to change my password, following the directives laid out under preferences. But, for the 4th time, the Mac did not recognize the change, and I got this error message:
It tells me it "has a problem" with my Apple ID. But when I open Apple ID Preferences to "fix the problem" I just get another error message suggesting I change my password. It's a vicious cycle.
Also, yes, I use two-factor ID.
Do you have any other ideas as to why my Mac continues to refuse my Apple ID password?
Sorry, I should have specified that it’s my Apple ID password that my Mac no longer recognizes, not the ID itself, when I try to connect to my iCloud to text, etc.. And I honestly don’t know why it no longer connects...I changed the password, which is recognized by my phone and iPad but NOT my Mac any longer. Please advise.
Thank you for your reply.
I have downloaded the suggested Malwarebytes software. It found and quarantined 28-29 items. I also restarted as suggested. However, I still have not been able to resolve the issue with my Mac not recognizing my Apple ID password.
Any other suggestions? Or is it time for Apple Support?
Also, when I look under settings on my iPhone, or on the website, it shows I am signed into my Mac, yet I cannot access my text message feature.
Hi TaraDK,
You've a great job with troubleshooting this issue and I agree, time to Contact Apple Support.
Enjoy your day!
Mac No Longer Recognizes My Apple ID Sign In for iCloud
