Account recovery time frame

Question

Level 1

4 points

Account recovery time frame

Going through the account recovery/ password change process right now. I manage accounts with a lot more important info than my apple account contains and changing a lost password is not a big deal. Why does it take apple Two weeks plus? This seems absolutely insane and borderline punitive. I have no access to any of my digital life linked to that Id.

a cursory google search makes it seem like this has been frustrating folks for years. What’s apple’s problem? There has to be an as-good way to verify we are the account owners without so onerous a time frame.

Posted on Nov 14, 2021 5:02 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

421,597 points

Nov 15, 2021 6:28 AM in response to Applsuks21

Apple doesn't share the steps in the process. The people here are mostly users like you and the few who work for Apple and work on this forum probably don't know why either.

Contact Apple. Click here --> https://support.apple.com/choose-country-region Select your country, then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.

or:

Contact Apple for support and service --> "See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world."

Click here --> https://support.apple.com/HT201232

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 15, 2021 6:39 AM in response to Applsuks21

Since iOS 14 you can always use a recovery key instead of relying on Apple’s account recovery process. While it is imperative to never lose the recovery key (there would be no way to recover an account in that case), it does mean you have 100% control of recovery and do not need Apple’s involvement at all.

Its not very hard though to keep the recovery key in a backed up password manager, a backed up encrypted note, or write it down and lock it in a home fire safe or wherever you keep secured important documents.

How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 3

Applsuks21 Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2021 6:34 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks again. I have already spent a couple hours on the phone with level 1 and 2 tech support. there is nothing that can be done at this point but wait. Per those conversations the two week time frame is mandatory and cannot be changed. Given the extent our lives can be tied to our Apple ID you would think they could.... would create a more extensive--but doesn't take two weeks-- process to regain access.

This is nothing but plan and simple Apple stubbornness being falsely branded as account security.