How can I recover my account?
Hello I recently lost my phone and I’m trying to sign back into my iCloud and it won’t let me because the phone number I use to have on the account I no longer have? Is there another way I can gain access?
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Hi,
Sorry to hear you are having issues with regaining access to your Apple ID. In order to properly regain access to your account, reference the following:
- Signed in with iCloud Settings: If you are signed into iCloud Settings already on that device, or another device, and the devices have a passcode enabled on them, you can reset your Apple ID password via your Settings.
Settings > Name > Password & Security > Change Password
Note: If you click on your Settings > Name area and it prompts you to enter your Apple ID password, you are not signed into iCloud Settings and cannot use this option.
- Not Signed into iCloud Settings, & same Trusted Phone Number: If you are not currently signed into your iCloud Settings, but you have the same Trusted Phone Number, you can use the Support app to reset your Apple ID password. You can get a friend or family member to download the Support app on their device. You will then reset your password by confirming a six digit verification code sent to the trusted phone number.
Support app > Topics > Passwords & Security > Reset Apple ID password > Get Started > select A Different Apple ID > enter your Apple ID email.
Download the Support app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-support/id1130498044
- Not Signed into iCloud Settings, & Different Trusted Phone Number: If you are not currently signed into your iCloud Settings, you no longer have access to your trusted phone number or you have recently changed your number, you will need to set up account recovery in order to regain access to your Apple ID. This can be done online at iforgot.apple.com by entering your Apple ID to get started. In order to start account recovery, you must be able to confirm the trusted phone number currently associated to the account, even if you no longer have that number. If you cannot confirm the number, you cannot set up account recovery to regain access to your Apple ID.
iforgot.apple.com > enter Apple ID email > confirm trusted phone number > when verification code is sent, select ‘Can’t Use this Number or Don’t have Access to this Number > enter your new trusted phone number, as well as the verification code sent to it. You can complete the recovery from here.
- Not Signed into iCloud Settings, Different Trusted Phone Number, & Can’t Confirm the Original Phone Number: You will not be able to regain access to this Apple ID. I would suggest creating a new Apple ID, or attempting to confirm the trusted phone number to set up account recovery.
How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password
Once Account Recovery has been created, you will receive a notification from Apple within 24 hrs that includes next steps on how to regain access to your Apple ID.
This notification will be sent via email to your Apple ID and/or as a text to the updated trusted phone number.
If you do not receive a notification within 24 hrs, you can sign back into iforgot.apple.com by entering your Apple ID.
You can check the status of the recovery at any time on this website, as well as use it to regain access.