For the last few months I keep getting logged out and then locked out of my Apple ID account. My iOS is always up to date and I’ve changed my password a few times to stronger ones and it keeps happening. I get this message 3-4 times a week. What is going on and how can I fix this?
iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 14
The below article is worth a read, and similar to other posts here, the author thinks that due to all the data breaches it may be possible that our accounts are being hit by hackers trying to brute-force the password, causing Apple to lock our accounts. He proposes that you change your Apple ID email address. In the case of some users, you could actually use a + character, meaning your current (soon to be old) email address is no longer a valid Apple ID. If your old address was 'user@gmail.com' it could now be something like 'user+sometag@gmail.com'. Email from Apple will still deliver to your existing 'user@gmail.com' email inbox, but your Apple ID would be considered as 'NEW'.
Link: https://gloutnikov.com/post/2020/prevent-appleid-from-constantly-getting-locked/
And in addition, here is some useful reading on enabling 2FA from Apple, in the event that you are "forced" to go this route.
Link: Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support
Looks like you can make it work with only one Apple device and any phone, if you can receive the SMS that is.
My issue seems to be slightly modified from when I first posted here. Now what happens is I have to sign into iCloud on my phone every single day. Less annoying than my original issue but still annoying.
Very interesting. It seems we all have not having 2FA in common. So who will be the guinea pig lol? If 2FA fixed it I wold actually do it. Entering my password on 6 devices every 5 days is becoming a bit much.
It hasn't happened to me in a while, so maybe the issue was fixed in an OS update. Regarding 2FA, speaking only for myself I find it overkill as a home user; I just don't want to have to jump through hoops to use my own laptop or phone.
Me too. I find it asinine that they can't use source IP as a 'half factor' considering they are very stable on most major carriers...even tracking the set of recent IPs->correct logons should let you shortcut any need for 2FA. I don't need the hassle of having to auth my Apple TVs every two days with my phone, frankly.
Oh GREAT!
Now someone is trying to capitalize on this screwup by Apple. They are using the problem that everyone is seeing as a nice platform for some serious phishing!
And of course sending addresses are spoofed:
We really need to know what is going on here, but as usual there has been no representation from Apple addressing the issue.
This has also been happening to me. I have two desktop Macs (one Big Sur, one Catalina), one iPhone, one iPad and an Apple TV all linked on the same Apple ID. I do not use 2FA because I am often nowhere near cell phone service. This issue just happened again this morning and like many others here I am beginning to suspect a flaw in Apple's ID management. Or, in the worst case, a push by Apple to force 2FA. In either case, this needs fixing - when the Apple ID has to be reset, ALL of those devices have to be updated, which as we all know is a laborious process. Completely unacceptable Apple.
Me too. The problem seemed to disappear some weeks ago, but just the other day it cropped up again. Other wierd behavior: yesterday I was on a Facetime call with my kids. Today when I turn on my phone, I get a message on the screen saying that I must verify my "Facetime login"... W*T*F*? So of course I had to go through the maddening process of logging in again. Huge FAIL, Apple!
Excellent suggestion - bot hacking attempts is a very rational and likely explanation for the frequent yet irregular 'lockouts' from, Apple. Gonna give this a try right away. Many thanks for posting the link to it.
I fell for the 2FA just because I thought it would fix this persistently annoying kicking off and locking problem, but guess what? The same crap happens on a daily basis. I’ve been with Apple since 1993 and I am so fed up with this bug. My problem also started around Dec 20/Jan 21 with and upgrade. Problem exists on both of my mobile devices, desktop, and laptop. I call BS on Apple’s reply to this problem by blaming it on hacking, and I STRONGLY agree with getting rid of the email ID! WTH Apple?!
Good to know that using 2FA does not fix the problem. I have had this same problem for the past few months also. I have to reset my password and unlock my account every few weeks. I have an iPhone 5s like serveral others have reported so suspect it is just Apples way to encourage us to upgrade. Very annoying!
You’re wrong, young Jedi. I have an iPhone 12 and have been suffering the same issue as you since about November 2020 (when I was still on my old iPhone 6s). So forced upgrading has nothing to do with it. Rather, it appears to be incompetent software engineering from a company with a market cap of a TRILLION $. We’re all sheep. ☹️
Hello Jeff. Interesting take on the problem. I'm hesitant to test a possible solution to your second point simply because I've been using my Apple ID since about 2005 and don't want to change it. Changing it requires me to once again remember a new id/pw combo, and at my age (60) it's getting harder and harder to remember all this crap. I know the "+" option is NOT an option for me as my ISP here in Spain doesn't allow for it.
I do Hushmail )as well as my normal email account via my ISP) which allows for unlimited aliases so I suppose I could generate a new email address to apply as my ID that way, but I worry if I don't like it and won't be able to go back to my original Apple ID that I've been using all these years. I know that when you change a p/w with Apple, they never let you go back to using one you used before. I assume the same goes if you change your ID then something in the future want to change it back to the ols one.
Very frustrating all this!
I've made completely new Apple ID's and nothing has changed. I think it has to do with the amount of devices you have. My kids have one apple device and it has never happened. My wife has two and it happens maybe once every since months. I have dozens and I'd say I get it about 3x a week on average.
I only have 1 Apple device and that’s my iPhone. This is still happening to me since I originally posted the question. It’s not a matter of how many devices you have and clearly we know now it’s not a matter if you completely change your Apple ID as it’s still happening. This is an Apple issue and they need to address it!
I think this is a very good idea/ guess as to what is happening, However, it would have been nice to have Apple say “ by not doing 2 step authentication, you may be LOCKED OUT Repeatedly “
its so frustrating that I think it would prompt me to do the 2 step authentication process.
everytime I get a new phone OR a phone is replaced Etc.... I get locked out of ALL MY accounts and have to make new passwords to pay bills!
i don’t have a OFFIC or space for one and PASSWORDS ARE IMPOSSIBLE to keep remembering! There must be a better way to deal with this problem out there?!
Apple ID keeps getting locked
