Apple employees see disabled Apple IDsĀ all the time. You enter your Apple ID and password, click Sign In, and it doesn’t work. You might see an error message that says your Apple ID is disabled, but a lot of the time,Ā your iPhone, iPad, or MacĀ won’t say anything at all. Either way, you’ll end up right where you started, because no matter how many times you enter your password, even if it’s correct, you can’t log in if your Apple ID is disabled. In this article, I’ll show you how to fix your Apple ID so you can log in and get back to using your device.
Why Is My Apple ID Disabled?
Most of the time, Apple IDs areĀ disabled for one of two reasons:
- You entered your password incorrectly too many times in a row. It’s especially frustrating whenĀ you remember your password later that day.
- You haven’t used your Apple IDĀ for a long time.Ā When Apple changes the requirements for passwords or security questions, your Apple ID mayĀ be disabled until you log in and update yourĀ information.
You Probably Saw One Of These Messages
Keep in mind that Apple uses “disabled” and “locked” interchangeably with regard to Apple IDs. For the purposes of this article, “YourĀ Apple ID is locked” andĀ “Your Apple ID is disabled” mean exactlyĀ the same thing.
The phrasing of the error messageĀ that led you to this article varies across devices. Macs and iCloud.com usuallyĀ say that your Apple ID (or account) has been disabled (or locked) for security reasons. iPhones usually display a boxĀ that says “Your Apple ID has been disabled”, but they won’tĀ tell you howĀ to fix it. That’s what this article is about.
What To Do When Your Apple ID Is Disabled
You have two optionsĀ when your Apple ID is disabled, and I recommend the first. People are often surprised to find out thatĀ Apple employees usually have no more access to your account than you do. They’ll just ask you the same questions you’ll find on Apple’s website, so it’s easiestĀ to start there.
Option 1: Fix The Problem On Apple’s Website
I recommendĀ you use a computer to visit Apple’s special Apple ID webpage, because it’s a lot easierĀ to type Apple IDs, passwords, and security questions withĀ a full-size keyboard.
Everyone who owns an iPhone knows how easy it is to type inĀ a password incorrectly.Ā I’ve seen peopleĀ make the same mistake twice when they enter and confirm a new passwordĀ using their iPhone.Ā It’s veryĀ frustrating when that happens.
When you visit Apple’sĀ website, click Manage yourĀ Apple ID, enter your Apple IDĀ and password, and clickĀ Sign In. If you enter your password correctly, you’ll be prompted to reset your password or to update your security questions. If you don’t know your password, clickĀ Forgot your password? below the password box.Ā After you reset it, return toĀ Apple’s website and you’ll beĀ asked to update your security questions the first timeĀ you log in.
Option 2: Contact Apple Support Directly
When your Apple ID is disabled, it’s not easy to fix itĀ over the phone or inĀ an online chat session.Ā Trust is not a factor when it comes to Apple employees and Apple IDs.Ā I know you’re you, you know you’re you, andĀ they know you’re you, but most of the time, it doesn’t matter.
Apple receivedĀ a lot of negative press from last year’s security breaches in iCloud. There must be a better way than an attitude of unwavering mistrust towardĀ their own customers,Ā but I do understand why Apple has made it so difficult for users toĀ useĀ their Apple ID after it isĀ disabled.
If you’d like to talk to a person at Apple, the best place to start is (you guessed it) on their website. Visit Apple’s support website,Ā select “Apple ID”, chooseĀ Disabled Apple ID,Ā and you can set up a call with an Apple employee, start an online chat session, or email Apple support, depending on the time of day.
SignĀ In With Your Device
You’ll know your Apple ID is no longer disabled when you can access the main account screen on Apple’s “Apple ID” webpage. Enter your Apple ID and password on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and click Sign In. You should be good to go!
In this article, we talked about the most common reasons why an Apple ID is disabled, the options you have for getting help if you need it, and how to update your account information on Apple’s website. I’d like to hear how you fixed your Apple ID (and what went wrong in the first place) in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading and remember to pay it forward,
David P.
Thanks for your article. I was able to contact Apple & iTunes…if you’ve disputed charges in the past they will disable/lock your account. I’m good to go now!
Contacting the Apple Support in this case iTunes sorted out my issue,
My apples Id is disabled not for security reasons and I reset everything and is still disable what is the solution pls
I also have another question, if you don’t mind. Lately my IPhone 7 Plus phone has been showing a message that says’this iphone hasn’t been backend up in “x” amount of weeks’… it is backed up, .when it is plugged up charging and hooked to wifi. i plug up my phone every night and have the wifi on, that we had installed recently in our home. Would there be a particular reason why it’s NOt backing itself up, since aim doing what it says? And if so, could this have anything at all to do with my apple id becoming… Read more Ā»
hi.. so took your advice the last time I visited the this page and changed my password, confirmed the security questions and it worked one time. Then I went back during a slot game to buy chips through play store on my apple phone, because I didn’t have internet on my samsung, that’s just used for games and music now, with no sim card…. well I went to my IPhone and I was able to get a little further than the first time, but as soon as i tried to go to my account, the message came up again.. your… Read more Ā»
Apple sucks I have to wait 15 days for them to give me a new password?? WTF?? 15 days with no phone ?? last iPhone I ever bought. Seems that without Steeve they just plain suck.
Thank you for that. I was able to unlock the ID following your instructions.
can i if ever use a different apple ID to unlock a disabled iphone? example my brothers apple id? anyone pls help? haha
omg this so annoying
my apple id is disabled but I can log into it on all of my devices however when I try to download or update an app i says that its disabled
why i do get this s*** it so annoying i want to get back my account
Cannot Reset Security Questions
We don’t have sufficient information to reset your security questions.
so my apple id is blocked becuase I coudnt rememver the password. When I remembered it, it was locked. I get the THIS APPLE ID has been locked for security reasons.. so I click on the UNLOCK APPLE ID button and it directs me to another page. When I type in the apple ID to unlock the account it tells me that my apple id is NOT an apple id? NOW WHAT??:
I just experienced the same problem. Its no longer disabled. I contacted them & the Rep guide me through the easy process.
Sign out, then power off, then log bk in again, try to download a free app, it will ask u for a p/w the first time. I have mines set up to ask for p/w every 15mins. The 2nd app I clicked on to installed it went right through.
This worked for me.
same problem too
there is any who can help us
mohammad salah bhai jitna likha h tune same too same problem here
Didn’t work for me. I’ve done all you said about resetting. I get through to apple page and then I go to App Store and try to update everything, I enter my password and get the same message “Apple ID is disabled”. I’m at my wits end.
Nothing happened except me just changing my password
This didn’t help at all. I can’t call apple rn because I’m in a different country for two more months. I can access my account but when I try to download or update an app it says that my Apple ID is disabled.
MY Apple ID say that is disable but I’m singed in all my devices I also did the prices to restar the password and connect in a computer in myappleid web page but still when I get to my Apple Store it says “Apple ID disable (and I’m singed in) any ideas?
Mine is disabled but apple support said since unlocking it is automated they cant do anything
Excellent help! Thanks. I was told by the Verizon carrier that I would have to go to the Apple Store to unlock my apple product…but your articles tips proved otheriwse.
Totally useless article!! What did you do??? copy and paste this together? Just to get your article noticed on google talking about Apple screwups. Have you never heard of “Account Recovery process” that takes DAYS. That’s Apple’s useless play on fixing their own problems., And if you argue with them, they only tell you to read the small print as they promply blame their customers for their own flaws.
Worst devices ever! Including the service and “security” ever. Stay away from apple!!!
My Apple password just stopped working. I couldn’t access iTunes store through iPhone or iPad. I used your Option 1 on my computer, using my same old password and now it is again working on my iDevices š Thank you!
I was using an old phone (I lost my new one and still somehow had it) and I got a notificication saying “Activation Required.” I figured someone that I share the account with just used Find My iPhone… whatever. Then I try signing, and I know FOR A FACT that I was using the correct password, but it disable my apple id. I figured, I’ll just go reset the password. Well, the email that was connected with my apple id was unactivated, and there was no way I could get it back. So, I tried answering security questions.. still didn’t… Read more Ā»
my son inlaw past away in March we are tryng to reacctivate his iphone with a new number but because he has the find my phone turned on we cant use it any ideas…..i called the number for support and they would unlock the phone for 145.00 what a bunch of bs can buy a new iphone 5s for 99.00 apple sucks for service think i’ll just but a smart phone and be done with apple and icloud if this is there way of helping customers out..
ffs this stupid disable thing, it disabled 2 of my accounts already wtf…and i did nothing wrong =.= just suddenly disable? da hell is wrong with apple man…. fuk it
when i try to reset my password, it doesn’t ask me any security questions, it just says i’ll be sent instructions via phone within a couple days. it’s been more than a couple days and i haven’t gotten anything. what do i do?
same
We bought an Ipohne on FB marketplace and while it’s not stolen or holding a remaining balance, the icloud account is locked to the old user and they ghosted us immediately after the transaction. Any suggestions??
This sentence is worng: “Youll know your Apple ID is no longer disabled when you can access the main account screen on appleid.apple.com. Enter your Apple ID and password on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and click Sign In. You should be good to go!” I always was able to sign in, but when trying to download updates from Apple Store, I still get the message: “Your Apple ID has been disabled.” Tried everything, reseting password …
I entered the verify code but it did not work so i tried it 4 more times, then it said “You have made too many attempts to verify this address”
How long is the error going to be lasting? When can I try to verify the address again?
Never again will I go iPhone. Regardless of what I do, my apple id is disabled on my phone and fine everywhere else. Can’t get through on the phone and self help via the web is useless. How can a corporation this size think this is acceptable? No wonder they’re losing market share. Damn. I liked this phone
Another Aha! It seems at some point my granddaughter changed my ipad to her apple account. When I got it back in my name, with my new password and new security questions and new credit card, IT IS WORKING!!! Grrrrrrr. Not totally. I’m having a hard time getting her name off the setting for the I-Tunes store. By the time I’m done with this, I’m going to demand Apple hire me because I’ll know how to fix EVERYTHING!
I just figured it out; thanks so much for this help. For me it was because my Visa card had expired. Aha! So check yours; that might be your problem. Word to the wise, then: Your account will become disabled –aka locked — when the credit card they have on file for you expires.
My apple ID has been disabled for months. I have changed my password successfully and can sign into my account on the apple website, but every time I try to download an app or buy more iCloud storage, I get the ‘disabled’ message. I called apple, the girl said it might have something to do with my iTunes account and said she’d transfer me to the iTunes people. Then they hung up on me. I gave up. It’s not often a corporation will leave you stranded when you want to spend more money with them.
i can sign in my apple id but when i want to download from app store its say “your apple id has been disabled. why? thx
I did setup a new Apple Id just to use my new device,but 5 years worth of purchases,contacts and other stuff is in Limbo. I guess it’s off to the Apple Store.
I wiped down and turned in my old phone to my employer, I can’t use the same Apple ID with my new phone as it wants to send a verification code to my old device.
My Apple ID Is Disabled [email protected] halp me
its recover my Apple ID .
I called to support center and followed their instruction and answered their question .
And now my Apple ID is re-activate .
” Every problem can’t get easily to solution ”
Thank you Apple support team #applesuportteam .
I’m blocked since Jan the 17th., it’s been 2 weeks. Nothing I can do.
my apple id is disabled but they are saying that” if you turn on Automatic Downloads with your Apple ID, you cannot auto download or download past purchases with a different Apple ID for 90 days.” How can i sort this out ??
I’ve had this problem for several months… maybe years, using itunes on my computer, always so easy. then one day there was an error and i reacieved that message. your appleid has been disabled, contact customer support. I tried all the suggested remedies, changed my password. was able to do this successfully and logged on using new login/pass… the minute to tried to use the store or something else, instantly go the disabled message. after several, several more times of repeating the same obnoxious routine, Then I finally gave up. After purchasing a new pc,I reloaded itunes on my laptop…… Read more Ā»
Not helpful. I signed in to AppleID, iTunes, and the AppStore. Changed my payment method, updated all my information. STILL says “AppleID disabled” What is going on?!?!?!?!?
Mines doing the same thing:/ Any luck fixing yours yet?
My apple ID is disabled, but not for security reasons as I reset everything regarding my appleID from password-security questions- email ID yet I am still disabled. I can access my account, just cannot purchase anything.
I’ve done all of the above steps you provided, even went as far as to turn my phone off and back on. Apple will let me see my account and change whatever I want but when I try to update my apps it tells me “Apple ID has been disabled” please help!
Im having the same AG, ive been trying for the last two days and all it keeps doing is updating my password and still not letting me into my account, im running out of passwords to remember, im going to an apple store today to see if someone there can help me, i can’t update my apps or really do anything, i never had all this with my samsung but everyone loves an apple eh.
I was able to re-set my password, logged in on my desktop but still can’t get anything from the app store. Any thoughts on how I can correct this?
i’m going through the same thing and no one seems to have an answer. this is so annoying…
Yea, right? Totally sucks! I’m going to try it again in a couple of days and then hit up Apple. I hope that I don’t have to restore my phone :/
I can’t reset my password cause my apple ID is locked i get this message: “too many attempts have been made to enter your information. Try again later.” i get this cause i forgot my security questions but I cant reset my answers cause i dont know the original answers
I knew my Apple ID but reset my password; appeared successful as I tunes works. But I cannot update my apps. So reset password again. I do not recognize the security questions as ones I would ever have been able to provide answers to. Rest password again, perhaps the ID was disabled due to a fraud on family sharing?? who knows, but I still cannot update my apps!!!! Help PLEASE