If you use two-factor authentication and can't sign in or reset your password, you can regain access to your account with account recovery.
What is account recovery?
Account recovery is an automated process designed to get you back into your Apple ID account* as quickly as possible and deny access to unauthorized users. Recovery might take a few days or more, depending on the verification information that you can provide.
* Learn how to sign in to your Apple ID or how to reset your Apple ID password.
Decide if you need account recovery
Use account recovery only as a last resort when you can’t sign in or reset your Apple ID password. Before you start account recovery, confirm that it’s right for you:
- Will you soon have access to the trusted device that displays the verification code that’s required to sign in? If so, don’t use account recovery. It's faster to wait until you can access a trusted device than to wait on account recovery, which might take days.
- Have you tried to reset your forgotten password from a trusted device? This is the quickest way to reset a password. Don’t start account recovery for a forgotten password unless you can't access a trusted device that has an enabled passcode.
Did you try the previous instructions and still need help? It’s time to request account recovery. Use Settings on your iOS device or System Preferences on your Mac:
On iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
- Go to Settings > Sign in to your [device]. For iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud.
- Tap Don’t have an Apple ID or forgot it, then tap Forgot Apple ID.
- Enter your Apple ID, then tap Next.
- Enter your trusted phone number, then tap Next.
- Finish the onscreen steps, which differ based on your access to your trusted phone number or another device.
On Mac
- Go to Apple menu > System Preferences, then click iCloud.
- Click Forgot Apple ID or password.
- Enter your Apple ID, then click Continue.
- Enter your trusted phone number, then click Continue.
- Finish the onscreen steps, which differ based on your access to your trusted phone number or another device.
If you can't access any of your devices
You can request account recovery from a friend or family member’s iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
- Open the Find My iPhone app. If a Sign In screen appears, tap Forgot Apple ID or Password, then follow the onscreen steps.
- Don't see a Sign In screen? Tap Sign Out. After you sign out, tap Forgot Apple ID or Password, then follow the onscreen steps.
Are you still unable to start the account recovery process? Only if you can't access your trusted device or a different iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac, go to iforgot.apple.com. Enter your Apple ID, enter the code you see, then click Continue. Enter your trusted phone number, then click Continue. Choose "Don’t have access to your trusted devices or phone numbers." Choose Start Account Recovery.
What comes next?
After you request account recovery, you get an email with a confirmation of your request and a date and time of when you can expect to regain access to your account. Next, wait for the recovery process to finish, which might take a few days or more.
When the process completes, Apple sends you a text or automated phone call with instructions to regain access to your account. Follow the instructions to immediately resume use of your Apple ID.
Check the status, start over, or try to shorten the wait
Here's how to cancel or restart the process, see if recovery is pending, or try to shorten your wait time:
- If you remember your Apple ID and sign in—or regain access to a trusted device that's already signed in—account recovery cancels itself for you. You can continue using your Apple ID as usual.
- Did you start account recovery from iforgot.apple.com, and then access one of your trusted devices? If so, restart account recovery from the settings on that device, instead of through iforgot.apple.com.
- Want to see if your recovery request is in progress? Check on iforgot.apple.com.
- You might be able to provide credit-card details and shorten the recovery period from iforgot.apple.com. If you’re given the option to confirm your credit-card details, an authorization request goes to the card issuer. If you enter the correct details but you're asked to reenter the correct security information, contact your card issuer. The issuer might be declining your authorization attempts.
Get help
- If you need more help, contact Apple Support. While we can answer your questions about the account recovery process, we can't verify your identity or expedite the process in any way.
- Did you forget your Apple ID password, but you don't use two-factor authentication?
