How do I recover a locked Apple Account after entering the wrong password?

If your account has been disabled for “security reasons” the solution is to reset your password as outlined in this document: If you forgot your password and can’t sign in to your Apple Account - Apple Support

If you find you can’t sign in, reset your password, or receive verification codes, you can request account recovery, mentioned later in that article, to regain access to your account. More detail in —> Activation Lockout Issues - Apple Community For additional assistance from Apple Security, read: Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

Even if you cannot reset your password, and in addition if you have not heeded Apple's reminder to change to two factor authentication, you should be able to use account recovery. Get Apple’s own instructions in a later section in this article: If you forgot your password and can’t sign in to your Apple Account - Apple Support

Apple may permanently lock accounts for other reasons which are for violations of terms. See Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple (sections A, C and F in particular) and Legal - Apple Media Services - Apple (sections iV and VII in particular)). That may be the case here if none of the previous reasons in the locked accounts support article apply to you. If it isn’t apparent, contact Apple and ask if that is the situation, but don’t expect them to tell you why. You, or somebody who has managed to get access to your account, are likely doing something Apple is interpreting as account misuse. You will have to see if your activities could be construed—rightly or wrongly—as meeting any of Apple's conditions in the terms documents. You will need to create a new account and stop doing things the way you have been that may have caused the other account to be locked.

In this situation you may be able to still use your equipment with a new account or even no account at all. Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Check the requirements and steps at: Activation Lock support request - https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support Apple says, "Proof of ownership documentation is required," but does not detail what currently constitutes proof other than it “must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID.” Apple may typically require the original receipt* issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. If Apple resets the device this will give you access to the device but won't restore access to the account used to lock it. There is nothing that can be done to expedite an Activation Lock request.

*Apple recommends you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device - Apple Support

Even then you only lose years of data if you do not keep your devices properly backed up to multiple locations. How to back up your Mac - Official Apple Support That has been a requirement since the dawn of computers.

Welcome and thank you for reaching out. 🤗

According to Apple:

If your account has been disabled for security reasons:

If you see one of the following messages, your Apple Account locked automatically to protect your security and you can’t sign in and use any Apple services:

• “This Apple Account has been disabled for security reasons”
• “You can’t sign in because your account was disabled for security reasons”
• ”This Apple Account has been locked for security reasons”

This might happen if you or someone else might have entered your password or other account information incorrectly too many times. To regain access, you need to reset your password.

Learn how to reset your Apple Account password.

If your Apple Account is locked or not active:

If you see a message that says your Apple Account is locked or not active, you might be able to request access to your account by tapping Request Access right from the alert.

You can also request access to your account.

If you can’t regain access to your Apple Account:

When you request access to your locked Apple Account, you might get an alert that says, “This Apple Account is locked and can’t be used” or your request might be denied.

If you can’t regain access to your Apple Account, you can either:

• Create a new Apple Account.
• If you need help removing Activation Lock and have proof of purchase documentation, you can start an Activation Lock support request.

If your Media & Purchases account has been disabled:

If you see a message that says “Your Media & Purchases account has been disabled,” you might be able to request reactivation by tapping Continue right from the alert.

You can also request reactivation.

Good Luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian | Community Volunteer

Hello~ In addition to the already helpful information…I keep everything on my devices backed up in various ways. If the information that I have is valuable then I do my part to guard and protect it.

~Katana-San~