Apple ID deactivated with no reason given

Hello,


So it's been havoc. I'm absolutely shocked and just now scared of Apple.


Three days ago my Apple ID got deactivated - I called apple as I was completely confused. They said it may have been a security feature so they requested to reactive and I should wait 24h.


24h pass and I'm back in. I use it to test the mails work. Great it does. A few hours - a prompt to input password again. It's deactivated again!


I contact apple, again they say wait 24h they've submitted a request. I wait 24h, nothing, so I call back.


This time the advisor clearly states, she can not discuss anything she is sending me the legal terms and conditions - for me to read this and that is all she can say.


I was absolutely shocked and confused. I just don't understand.


I read the WHOLE huge document - it makes no sense? I've not breached anything? The legal terms and conditions also mention they give 30 days notice if they wish to deactivate an account and that is enough time to cure any issues.


I call back and a new advisor says the same thing. No information. I emphasise how stressful this is, and they pass me to a senior technician. This senior technician was great, a helpful person. He tells me he can activate it and confirms my ID via my devices and speaks openly to me. I didn't get his name (the biggest mistake of my life). He tells me he just needs to check something he will put me on hold. After the 40 minute call, the song interrupts (me thinking his back) and the call ends.


I call back, a new advisor......... back to square one. Same advice, she can't do anything. She says she put in a request again for me. Then she tells me there's no notes from the guy I spoke to?!? So there is no record.


This is absolutely criminal. I only want to know why my account was disabled and no one is willing to help me at all. It's unbelievable. The amount of sensitive information I gave to the Apple Advisor. I just do not understand how Apple can deactivate you without any reason and any notice.


Can this happen to anyone? I have two accounts, my main one has over 200gb of photos and videos - is this now at risk too??


Why can an apple advisor not answer my simple question of WHY my account has been deactivated?

MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 2023)

Posted on Jun 19, 2023 9:48 AM

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40 replies

Jun 19, 2023 10:06 AM in response to jbzaa

The people on this forum are almost exclusively users like you (or Apple employees who cannot answer your kind of questions of Apple). We basically have to work with what Apple provides everybody in terms of information, plus whatever we learn here. So as far as why Apple does something, we don't know. From what you describe and what others have said in similar situations it would appear the support people have a limited number of resources which are basically similar to what you can read in Apple's documents. I would try calling them again and see if you can get the issue escalated to somebody higher on the ladder than the first level support people. Ultimately, while not common, yours is not the first story I have seen of unclear issues as to why an account has been disabled. You may just have to be persistent. Frankly I am not all that trusting of any online service and while many of the services they provide can be convenient, I am old-fashioned and there's nothing like having a copy of all your media on a couple of backup drives at home just in case.

Aug 7, 2023 1:55 AM in response to jbzaa

I just had this about a week ago. I attempted to contact Apple three times.

First time they said they would submit a reactivate request. Then a few days later I got an email saying the request was denied. Log-in message would turn from "Apple ID is inactive" so something like "Apple ID and password is incorrect".

Second time I messaged online and they said need to call in person. I call in person and they said they need overseas department for this.

Third time I called just now, they said actually no one has the information to the reason why it is blocked/deactivated/removed. She said this type of inactivation was a system automated flag and action, and all she can do is to note to her leader/ superiors my frustration and feedback to improve the system.


It is aboslutely bull, I paid for some apps and programs I use daily, why you could just suddenly take them away from me. What is wrong with your company?? Someone needs to come out and answer.

Jun 27, 2024 10:13 AM in response to jbzaa

Same thing happened to me as well… I was not given any reason ; I was asked to read their Terms & Conditions and find out for myself what I could have done to have my account deactivated.

Have you file a complaint to your Data/Consumer Protection Authority ? One of the Apple Advisors told me that the Security System was put in place because of the GDPR so based on that information, I think a good place to start would be to file a complaint to your Data/Consumer Protection Authority in your country.

Nov 6, 2023 6:50 PM in response to Limnos

While what you say is true and is appreciated, you are digressing and as a result this discussion is running in circles.


Reports can be found over the internet for example this one describes an account initially disabled 3 year ago (https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/s/9uV8uUzsFg),with exact reasons unknown and up to user’s own speculations to this very day.


These issues have always led users to Apple Support as a first step. This issues have been reported to Apple every time users face the same treatment. Apple didn’t give any reasons even after over these years meaning they do not plan to address or release explanations, hence affected users asking on here and hoping to prevent another unforeseen loss of data in the future.


Telling us to speculate reasons and avoid all potential scenarios and subsequently telling us to contact Apple are both ineffective suggestions as those have proven above already not to be solutions to the problem, with respect.


Again, your response and time are nonetheless highly appreciated .

Nov 6, 2023 2:26 PM in response to jbzaa

You have no idea. This same thing has happened to me.. over 20 times now. And they just told me to continue this insanity and make a new Apple ID yet again. Just to let you know how expensive and deeply disturbing this has gotten..

I had 3 iPhones (smashed 2 out of frustration caused by being disabled for no reason), have 2 ipads and Ive had to BUY 3 more iPhones to make new Apple IDs (because they only allow 3 Apple ID to be made per device.) So I’ve spent roughly.. $6000? To make new Apple IDs. Due to my accounts being relentlessly disabled for no reason. The cost is one thing, but the time lost and stress gained is another!

It takes me about 2 weeks to delete, reinstall, restore, relink or recover, all my apps and accounts, sometime during this process it asks me for a payment method, which I provide so I have it setup if I want to buy something in the future and usually within 24hrs (had a few last a week or two) my account is disabled and they pass me around between representatives who all say exactly the same thing, “ Apple closed the account in accordance with the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions.” and REFUSE to name a specific reason and then tell me to make another Apple ID. Which literally just repeats everything I just said.

Nov 6, 2023 7:03 PM in response to KamanleoDickson

Basically there is nothing anybody posting to this forum can do to help you. We are simply other users like yourself, not people who work for Apple or have special connections. Apart from what is included in the user documentation we don't know anything more. We could speculate but that is prohibited by the terms of use of the forum. Since I have never had an account closed I can't even provide information about my experience. Apple can be highly secretive. It can be very frustrating but that's the way they do things. The only thing you can do is provide feedback to them and see if you can encourage them to change how they do things. Posting on this forum won't really help since Apple doesn't really monitor it for this kind of feedback (they do monitor it for topics which aren't really technical Q&A stuff though).

Apr 2, 2024 6:32 PM in response to jbzaa

OK 3 hours tonight. Must be factory reset but only after I submit proof of purchase to them and apply then we can reset phone. Otherwise the rest only wipes phone but its useless and still locked to ID that is deactivated that you cannot login or logout of to remove from the phone. This could take a week. can still use phone for phone and texting email and whatever apps are on phone. cannot download any new apps.



[Edited by Moderator]

Jun 19, 2023 10:31 AM in response to Limnos

Thank you - I was just messaging my friend now and having a rant at how Apple did this. But you're spot on. I am completely fine with going back to old school and backing up data and not relying on cloud etc. The problem is Apple advertising it like its something you should depend on, which sadly I as a fool fell into their trap.


Regarding escalation, so everyone I spoke to after the first call was a "Senior" and I said to them I want to speak to someone higher they said there is no one else higher. In addition, I said how can I communicate this though as its crazy Apple has just taken my data and are not allowing me to access my "own" data. (Yes I understand they own it all and I don't) but this is just absolutely crazy. I was so stressed now I've just given up on Apple. Worst bit is I just spent couple of grands on their new MacBook. Would have thought otherwise if I knew Apple is like this. Definitely going to think twice when making any new purchases.


One other thing I asked the last advisor was "do you know why I got deactivated and you're just not telling me, or do you actually not know" he used the same scripted line. Therefore they know, they just can't tell you for "legal reasons". It makes no sense. Treating me like some sort of criminal. Disgusting. Really really traumatised from this. Imagine your whole life data wiped just cause someone felt like pushing a button. Truly gives me perspective to how much we rely on technology.


This has opened my eyes more than anything about how companies control people.

Nov 2, 2023 9:07 PM in response to jbzaa

It is an ongoing problem , I had called them , they re-activated, then disabled it again. The customer service advised me to log out from Apple ID , then create a new one , try to back up your phone to the new Apple ID, guess what happened? They disabled my new Apple ID too. No explanation, no reason, just banning me from App Store , even cannot update my apps , I had my first account for 10 years never did anything wrong. There should be a class action against Apple for prohibiting consumer with no basis from accessing the App Store, this is getting out of hand.

Jan 31, 2024 2:25 AM in response to jbzaa

Exact same thing

I had a problem it was deactivated two months ago and I got it fixed. I wasn’t doing anything weird with my phone I’m not a telemarketer, etc. light usage. Work Construction as an employee not a salesman. My account was just deactivated for no reason, and after six hours on and off the phone, they told me at Tech Support the decision was above them, and I should just create a new account. I struggled and got the photos off my phone but I have no way to transfer the text messages and I had to copy my notes on one to Google Keep.

I had planned to start using Numbers and Apple office products, but now I’m going back to Google and looking forward to 2 1/2 years when I get another android phone! This was a nightmare!!!

Jun 13, 2024 1:18 PM in response to jbzaa

I have had my apple iTunes account for around 20 years with thousands spent on purchases having an online library of music and movies, when me.com came out I made and email address there and this became my main Apple ID for setting up devices etc. and backups, but as my iTunes purchases could not be moved to my new account I have kept the second if just logged into iTunes and App Store since. With no notice this week it has been deactivated and just sent

the link to T’s & C’s and after three attempts to reset they say they can do nothing and can’t tell me why or how this happened…. Absolutely terrible accountability and communication from Apple. 😳

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Apple ID deactivated with no reason given

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