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How can I unlock my Apple ID when I don't recall the answers to my security questions?

So my original apple id is locked for security reasons.it takes me to a place where i can unlock my account by either sending an email to that locked apple id or i could answer the security question. I dont remember the security question at all and ive seen some videos where it tells the person to add their phone number but that option NEVER comes for me . i need some help how else can i recover my apple id ?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 12:05 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 12:32 PM

Hello,


Try the directions in the article If you forgot the answers to your Apple ID security questions - Apple Support for resetting your security questions:

"Reset your security questions

1. Go to https://iforgot.apple.com/ .

2. Enter your Apple ID, then select Continue.

3. Choose the option to reset your security questions, then select Continue.

4. Enter your Apple ID password, then select Continue.

5. Follow the onscreen steps to verify your identity. The information you’re asked to provide may vary based on your account details and other factors. If you don't get any options to verify your identity, you can't reset your security questions at this time.

6. Choose new security questions and answers and select Continue."


Note that Apple labeled this article as "archived", which means it has not been updated since December, 2021 and may contain outdated information.


If you get a message about not having 'sufficient information', you will not be able to reset your security questions this way.


This Apple Recommended post purports you can make an Account Recovery request in this situation and subsequently reset your security questions (of which I am somewhat skeptical and you may be required to set up two factor authentication instead): Reset security questions, required to fil… - Apple Community


The article: About your Apple ID email addresses - Apple Support is updated and it implies you can use a rescue email (if you set one up -- if you did not, it is too late to do that now) to reset your questions: "If you ever forget your security questions, you can use your rescue email address to reset them. We also send any account security-related notifications to your rescue email address." How you do this exactly is not clear and my research into this reveals it may depend upon your region. Here is one possible way (from: https://www.alphr.com/we-do-not-have-sufficient-information-to-reset-your-security-questions/ ) but I have not tested it beyond the first step since I do not want to experiment with my account. ;-).


1. Visit this page and enter your Apple ID --> https://iforgot.apple.com/password/verify/appleid

2. Enter your rescue email address and have a verification email sent there to reset your password.

3. Follow the link in the email to reset.


If you cannot get any of the above to help with resetting the security questions then realize that several years ago Apple transitioned to using to two factor authentication instead of security questions. Apple has since been persistently encouraging users to switch to the newer security system and your only recourse may now be to try to change to two factor authentication as outlined in this article --> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support Follow the instructions in the section "Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID"


If you can neither reset the questions, nor switch to two-factor authentication, you may well have lost any access to that account. In a Dec. 2022 post by Apple Community Specialist K_Faith in the thread I’ve tried resetting my security question… - Apple Community it says, "If you’ve forgotten your security questions, there isn’t a way for Apple to reset them for you, or another way to access your account. You would need to create a new Apple ID, which also means you won’t have access to previous purchases or data stored in iCloud."


If you wish to speak with Apple about this, contact with Apple ID account security using the information in this document --> Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support


4 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Aug 18, 2023 12:32 PM in response to Spidermanshah

Hello,


Try the directions in the article If you forgot the answers to your Apple ID security questions - Apple Support for resetting your security questions:

"Reset your security questions

1. Go to https://iforgot.apple.com/ .

2. Enter your Apple ID, then select Continue.

3. Choose the option to reset your security questions, then select Continue.

4. Enter your Apple ID password, then select Continue.

5. Follow the onscreen steps to verify your identity. The information you’re asked to provide may vary based on your account details and other factors. If you don't get any options to verify your identity, you can't reset your security questions at this time.

6. Choose new security questions and answers and select Continue."


Note that Apple labeled this article as "archived", which means it has not been updated since December, 2021 and may contain outdated information.


If you get a message about not having 'sufficient information', you will not be able to reset your security questions this way.


This Apple Recommended post purports you can make an Account Recovery request in this situation and subsequently reset your security questions (of which I am somewhat skeptical and you may be required to set up two factor authentication instead): Reset security questions, required to fil… - Apple Community


The article: About your Apple ID email addresses - Apple Support is updated and it implies you can use a rescue email (if you set one up -- if you did not, it is too late to do that now) to reset your questions: "If you ever forget your security questions, you can use your rescue email address to reset them. We also send any account security-related notifications to your rescue email address." How you do this exactly is not clear and my research into this reveals it may depend upon your region. Here is one possible way (from: https://www.alphr.com/we-do-not-have-sufficient-information-to-reset-your-security-questions/ ) but I have not tested it beyond the first step since I do not want to experiment with my account. ;-).


1. Visit this page and enter your Apple ID --> https://iforgot.apple.com/password/verify/appleid

2. Enter your rescue email address and have a verification email sent there to reset your password.

3. Follow the link in the email to reset.


If you cannot get any of the above to help with resetting the security questions then realize that several years ago Apple transitioned to using to two factor authentication instead of security questions. Apple has since been persistently encouraging users to switch to the newer security system and your only recourse may now be to try to change to two factor authentication as outlined in this article --> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support Follow the instructions in the section "Turn on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID"


If you can neither reset the questions, nor switch to two-factor authentication, you may well have lost any access to that account. In a Dec. 2022 post by Apple Community Specialist K_Faith in the thread I’ve tried resetting my security question… - Apple Community it says, "If you’ve forgotten your security questions, there isn’t a way for Apple to reset them for you, or another way to access your account. You would need to create a new Apple ID, which also means you won’t have access to previous purchases or data stored in iCloud."


If you wish to speak with Apple about this, contact with Apple ID account security using the information in this document --> Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support


Aug 18, 2023 1:57 PM in response to Spidermanshah

Did resetting fail?


Did you get a "not sufficient information" message?


Did you try account recovery?


Did you try a rescue email address?


Could you not set up 2 factor authentication instead?


What did Apple say when you called them?


If all the above have negative results then have you reconciled yourself that the account cannot be used any more and you need to create a new account?



How can I unlock my Apple ID when I don't recall the answers to my security questions?

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