Account keeps getting locked for security reasons and requires me to change my password constantly last couple weeks

Why does my account keep getting locked? I’ve looked through everything and there have been no new downloads or purchases made. Only my device is set to my Apple ID account. I’ve had to change my password multiple times already.

What’s going on?

Posted on Dec 20, 2020 4:31 PM

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Posted on Jan 31, 2021 4:52 PM

I have had this problem too, getting locked out at least once a day, but some times up to 3 times in the same day. I had an online chat with Apple support about it, and I learned a few things during that chat and after trying some things:


  • You can enable 2FA, then disable it within 2 weeks to test things
  • After enabling 2FA, you get an email from Apple with a "magic link" clicking on it (within 2 weeks) is the way to disable 2FA
  • Once I enabled 2FA (mid January 2021), the problem went away completely
  • After 13 days, just before my 2 weeks was up, I disabled 2FA (disabling 2FA -requires- you to change your password)
  • After disabling 2FA, the problem started up again, up to 3 times a day


So I tried putting my iPhone (X) in airplane mode. I then logged out of iCloud/Apple on my MacBook Pro (2012) and closed the lid to sleep the machine. Finally, I logged out of iCloud/Apple on my iMac (2019) and my Mac Pro (5,1). This left my iPad (4) as the only device logged in. And STILL the problem happened. As an example, the moment I took my phone out of airplane mode, the "account locked" message came up.


Although I acknowledge the nuisance that 2FA was in the early days, during my 13 days with 2FA enabled (1 day short of the 2-week point-of-no-return) I did not encounter -any- nuisance authentication requests. In other words, I was never once challenged to have to enter an authorization code sent to my iPhone in order to "do" anything on any other device. When you enable 2FA, you do have to log into each device now that 2FA is enabled, and when doing so you get some type of notification that the device you're logging into is now a known trusted device. Now that it's a trusted device, you won't get challenged by 2FA for any authorization code for anything you do on THAT device. And so, since all of my devices were trusted, I never once saw a 2FA challenge during the 13-day period. I'm pretty sure that if I got some new device during that time and tried to set up iCloud on it, I'd be challenged by 2FA one time for that new device, but then it would be trusted. 


My point is: like many of you here, I've resisted 2FA for a very long time, and even disabled it 13 days after enabling it. But, I have to say that life with 2FA didn't actually have any of the nuisances that were reported by people in the long ago past, and if I cannot get to the bottom of this with 2FA disabled, I will probably end up re-enabling 2FA and letting that become permanent by allowing it to stay enabled past the 14 days. Because it DID solve the "account locked" problem for me.

100 replies

Jan 3, 2021 1:47 AM in response to NigelDuck

I do not have 2FA. In my iPhone when I attempt to turn on backing-up iMessage to iCloud - important to me because I want me messages on my Mac also - I am now prevented from doing so. I get a message instructing me to turn on 2FA which I cannot bypass. Grrr. So, it is clear that Apple are forcing us to use 2FA now and not giving us an option not to. Have others this problem?

Jan 4, 2021 2:54 AM in response to Suisho13

This is happening to me too, and started a few weeks ago. At first I thought it was someone trying to get into my account, but it now seems, that is not the case. It is on my purchases ID, and yesterday, instead of unlocking it, I have just left it alone. App store updates work fine, so I just have to learn ignore the red badge on the settings app.


Apple is dropping the ball big time.

Jan 6, 2021 7:39 AM in response to Suisho13

Here's another piece of irony. I was locked out of my iPhone this morning and went on my desktop to look up the problem. The same as everyone else here, it has been occurring on all my devices with greater frequency for the past 2 months. In my attempt to reply and add to this discussion I was locked out and had to go through hoops to get it unlocked. SMH

What is going on Apple?

Jan 6, 2021 9:04 AM in response to Suisho13

I too am having the same problem. It started several weeks ago with a request to reset the password for my Apple ID. After doing so, every few days, I either have to verify my Apple ID or enter my password for iMessage or FaceTime. This is happening across 5 devices. As I had held off updating to ios14, I thought that might be the problem. So, I have updated all 5 devices, and done hard resets on all multiple times. Still having the issue. Like most others I do not use 2FA. My spouse, who has two devices, is not having this problem. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm desperate. It is a colossal pain to have to keep doing this over 5 devices.

Jan 7, 2021 6:45 AM in response to Suisho13

None of the "official" responses do anything to help with this sign in issue, and frankly doesn't look like Apple really cares about this issue. I've had this issue for months now. It doesn't seem to matter what OS version you're on either, as I'm on 13.4.1, as I will never update to the latest iOS ever again, as the last time I updated my phone it went from usable good battery life, to the battery dying within an hour. Making my phone pretty much on life support being plugged in all the time, till I got a new phone. **** you Apple for killing hardware with software update. Their whole infrastructure is not as stable or streamlined as it use to be. After 10 years of Apple, I finally got rid of my Apple computer and went back to Windows. Same is going to happen with my iPhone at this point too. I've had an Iphone since 2011, but I'm just going to go back to Android, and stop giving this company my money.

Jan 8, 2021 6:11 AM in response to lukatibo

Update: I've been logged out of this account on all of my equipment since my last post on here. For all intensive purposes the account was dormant, yet I had to unlock it to post this very message. So I think that's pretty conclusive evidence that something is happening at the server end with regards our accounts getting locked and it's not a user equipment issue.


Additionally, A little heads up for you guys. I received my first Apple phishing email this morning, informing me that this very account has been locked. So I'm staring to suspect either a security breach at Apples end ( they'll never admit to that and have informed me that my account is not being locked because of one) or my account is being targeted (never been informed it has). Either way, I cannot keep changing the password to this account every day. It's getting ridiculous. I need to speak to an Apple engineer





Jan 8, 2021 9:28 PM in response to sbwinter2

I, too, am having the very same problem and noticed that it began in late November 2020. Using an iPhone 8 and a MB Pro 2020. Haven't had past security issues/breaches with my Apple ID (that I know of!) but it has been occurring roughly every five to six days as of late. Inexcusable. I also wonder (as others in this thread have) whether Apple is trying to prompt users to adopt two-factor authentication but I'd prefer not to because it didn't work easily when I tried it when two-factor was made available by Apple a few years ago. I've changed my Apple ID password (doubted that would matter, and it hasn't) so I suppose the next logical step is to change my email address associated with Apple, which also is a nuisance and simply shouldn't be. All this to say, it's inexcusable and unconscionable that Apple engineers haven't directly addressed this problem unless it's now so far beyond their control that they only can recommend options that many users do not prefer, such as use of two-factor authentication.

Jan 9, 2021 12:08 PM in response to Suisho13

I literally had to unlock my account just to post this unlike most of you people here I have been having this issue for like a year. I only own a apple tv latest gen and the original ipad mini which is rarely used. I even enabled 2 factor and still get locked out constantly. Everytime I want to give apple ******* money for a movie it asks for my password and boom I'm locked out. It has to be some sort of Apple update or server side bs they have going on because it's ******* ridiculous to have to unlock my **** every day or two. Not too mention how ******* often I have to verify my credit card info all the ******* time because it doesn't save the 3 digit code or maybe it forces me to update it after every unlock. I have never called Apple but from reading here I'm glad I'm not alone and seems there support is **** anyway for us customers paying for this ****** security. I mean it's 2021 fix your **** apple. If I wasn't already deep into there ecosystem I'd just throw the Apple tv and ipad out in the garbage. Glad I have an Android phone at least.

Jan 17, 2021 1:45 AM in response to dayeishere

Happens to me at least once a week on MacBook, two iPads and iPhone. This started in late November. As a minor additional irritation, afterwards, on my MacBook I have to enter my Apple password twice for the app store - not just once. There must be a glitch.


I do not want to go to 2 factor authentication and get intensely annoyed by the way Apple are pushing it.

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Account keeps getting locked for security reasons and requires me to change my password constantly last couple weeks

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