Cannot login to Apple Account with Safari but can with Firefox

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Cannot login to Apple Account with Safari but can with Firefox

Every time I try to login to my Apple Account using Safari, it fails. Whether I use the stored password, copy and paste from my password manager, or type the password in myself, the login just does that little sideways dance and refuses to accept it.

Using the exact same procedures from Firefox works every time.

Safari is Version 18.0 (19619.1.26.111.10, 19619). My M1 MacBook Pro is running Sonoma 14.7.

I have re-started Safari. I have re-started the Mac. Neither helped.

I found some related threads from 2020 including one about installing an extra certificate, which I did (and re-started the Mac again). No luck. At that time the consensus seemed to be that it was a back office problem at Apple's end, and nothing the client could do would fix it.

I found a thread about signing in to iCloud after changing the password, and followed it. No luck. I haven't found a current thread with my exact problem (but maybe I missed it).

Any advice?

This is entered from Firefox, because, obviously, I can't sign in with Safari.

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Oct 30, 2024 7:51 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

chrisfromkenilworth Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 1, 2024 7:12 AM in response to chrisfromkenilworth

So after a long chat session with Apple Support, followed by a long phone call from someone else in Ireland, including a bit of screen sharing (eeek!), we have the answer!

When you try to login to the Apple Account via Safari on a Mac, when it asks for a password, you have to enter your Mac password (though it doesn't tell you that).

When you try to login to the Apple Account via Firefox on a Mac, when it asks for a password, you have to enter your Apple Account password (though it doesn't tell you that). (There are some subtly different elements to the transaction which I can now recognise, but did not seem to be an issue at the time.)

Maybe everyone else on the whole **** world knew this, but heck, Apple, that is one seriously terrible bit of user interface design.

But thank you Apple Support for explaining it patiently and clearly!

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Answer 2

Oct 30, 2024 8:13 AM in response to chrisfromkenilworth

Do you have another Apple Device? It would be interesting to try Safari on another Apple Device and see if you are successful. Can you update/reinstall Safari on your Mac?

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Answer 3

Oct 31, 2024 6:09 AM in response to chrisfromkenilworth

I have tried a complete re-install of MacOS. Looked like being 4:30 of my life lost, but finished in 1:30.

Result: exactly the same as before, login failed with Safari, succeeded with Firefox. Tried again with Ghostery disabled, same result.

It's beginning to look like a visit to th Apple Store is needed!

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2024 10:23 AM in response to JDW-Dayton

I have an old iPhone SE which logs in fine, but that appears to use a completely different method.

I don't want to move onto Sequioa yet, but I see there is an update for onoma and Safari. I will update them, thanks.

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Answer 5

Oct 30, 2024 3:44 PM in response to chrisfromkenilworth

Updated to Sonoma 14.7.1 and Safari Version 18.1 (19619.2.8.111.5, 19619). Result: I still can't login to my Apple Account from Safari, ** I can from Firefox using the exact same credentials.

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Answer 6

Oct 31, 2024 2:41 AM in response to chrisfromkenilworth

Any ideas, anyone?

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Cannot login to Apple Account with Safari but can with Firefox

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