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MariaPaaw Author

Level 1

21 points

Recovery of iCloud /email/ password

Hello, so, I cannot for the life of me remember what my iCloud email password is. Yes, iCloud email, not Apple ID, not iCloud storage.

I have full access to my Apple ID and iCloud storage via my phone (I own a Dell laptop, not a MacBook), but I can't access my iCloud email because I can't remember its password. To clarify:

Apple ID: myname@gmail.com (I remember it perfectly, have access)

Password: example123 (I remember it perfectly, have access)

iCloud: myname@icloud.com (I remember it perfectly)

Password: ??? (no idea)

I tried iForgot. A MONTH AGO. I'm talking early December 2016. It asked me for my trusted phone number, I successfully gave it, I got a code on my phone, I entered it on iForgot, it all seemed to go great. It said that the account recovery could take a few days. It's been a month. Nothing. Nada. This is absolutely ridiculous. I obviously have access to all the other features. I obviously have access to the phone. I just want access to my email. How can it take longer than a month to reset a password? No email in the history of emails has taken longer than a month to reset a password. I don't have an Apple Store close by (not unless I drive for hours and hours). So...???

Any idea on how to solve this? Do I just say bye bye to my iCloud email? I have things set up on it (namely, a twitter account, a facebook account, some work emails).

Thanks.

iPhone 6s, iOS 10.2.1

Posted on Jan 25, 2017 10:59 AM

Best reply

Winston Churchill

Level 10

122,481 points

Posted on Jan 25, 2017 11:04 AM

If you are unable to remember your password, security questions, don’t have access to your rescue address or are unable to reset your password for whatever reason, your only option is to contact Apple ID Support, upon speaking to an operator you should explain that your problem is related to your Apple ID, this way you will not be charged for assistance, even if you don’t have an AppleCare plan.

You will need to show patience with the procedure and be prepared to demonstrate without question that the account belongs to you. Don’t expect access to be restored immediately and if you aren’t the owner of the Apple ID registered to the device the account won’t be reset.

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32 replies

LACAllen

Level 8

43,404 points

Apr 1, 2017 12:35 PM in response to salahananse73

They obviously don't require the iCloud email password to match your Apple ID password or I wouldn't have a problem.

We didn't know what your problem is actually. You had not stated it clearly.

The stories you refer to are about users who need their accounts with 2 Factor Authentication recovered because they forgot the password, lost access to their trusted device, and had not added any trusted phone numbers.

That does not sound like your scenario at all. Do you use 2 Factor Authentication?

I know my Apple ID password & when I plug it in Apple Mail preferences as the password for my iCloud email,

This does not make sense. Is there an error message?

By the way, I reset my Apple ID this year. It didn't update my iCloud email to match.

I have no idea what this means. What steps did you take, and what were you expecting to happen?

Apr 1, 2017 12:41 PM in response to LACAllen

I am using 2 factor authentication. I have no problems logging into iCloud with my Apple ID. I can also see my iCloud email when I log in on a web browser. I need a password to allow Apple Mail to get access to this same email account. My Apple ID password does not work.

Do I need to turn 2 factor authentication off?

Apr 1, 2017 12:46 PM in response to LACAllen

By the way, I reset my Apple ID this year. It didn't update my iCloud email to match.

When I wrote this, I was referring to Apple ID passwords not being the same as iCloud email passwords. Apple prompted me to update my iCloud/Apple ID password in December. I did. But it had no affect on my iCloud email. The old password is still plugged in.

LACAllen

Level 8

43,404 points

Apr 1, 2017 1:01 PM in response to salahananse73

I am using 2 factor authentication.

That changes things.

Do I need to turn 2 factor authentication off?

Probably not.

Ok.. if at all, when do you get asked for, and then successfully enter, the 6 digit verification code that is sent to your trusted device?

sI have no problems logging into iCloud with my Apple ID. I can also see my iCloud email when I log in on a web browser.

So this tells me you should have no issues if the icloud email is also the same Apple ID.

And by web browser, do you mean signing in to iCloud.com and seeing your mail there?

I realize you believe they are separate. If they are, you have a very atypical issue that you should be calling Apple Support about. Not debating with volunteers here.

Apr 1, 2017 2:07 PM in response to MariaPaaw

***UPDATE***

The problem was 2 Factor Authentication.

The Apple Mail application I was using was on an older computer that I only use as a server and to email invoices from Quickbooks Pro. It couldn't prompt or recognize 2 Factor Authentication. Thus the mail server replied with an error when I used both the password without the extra 6 digits and the password WITH the extra 6 digits. Once I turned 2 Factor Authentication off, it worked fine.

Jun 16, 2017 7:50 AM in response to MariaPaaw

Woke up and suddenly my Iphone app for Icloud doesn't recognize my password. It doesn't offer an option for password recovery and all the instructions in help refer to something that doesn't exist when I go to the Apple website. I'm guessing it's an app issue, but pretty infuriating. Guess I just need to find another app for ICloud. Good luck Maria. You are not alone.

Crystal

Jul 13, 2017 6:33 AM in response to MariaPaaw

Yes, I have the same problem with my "me.com/icloud.com" email address. My Apple password is totally different, I have a PC and a Dell laptop, both running Windows 10 and I cannot access my me.com account on my laptop as I have forgotten my password. I have another problem on my PC where I can access my Apple account and receive email, but I am unable to send from this account. The password is remembered by the computer.

Ideas please!

Clearly Apple have made major changes to their email setup, but given little or no thought to non Apple/Windows devices, of which I have three. I'm happy to have the one all round Apple password, the big question how do I do it?

LACAllen

Level 8

43,404 points

Apr 1, 2017 4:51 PM in response to salahananse73

You can still use 2FA if you wish.

Use an app specific password wherever you need to enter a 2FA verification code.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204397

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

Mar 21, 2017 12:50 PM in response to tcollmar

Enter your Apple (iCloud) ID and click Forgot Password.

Apple ID - Manage

Feb 12, 2017 6:44 AM in response to MariaPaaw

Choose a location near to you.

MariaPaaw Author

Level 1

21 points

Feb 12, 2017 6:46 AM in response to Winston Churchill

THERE.......ISN'T...........ONE...

Can you read?

Feb 12, 2017 6:48 AM in response to MariaPaaw

There are locations all over the world. The fact that you seem intent on making it difficult for yourself suggests there is more to your story that you haven't yet told us.