You reach for your iPhone, your Mac, or the App Store, and suddenly you cannot get in. Maybe you typed the wrong password too many times, maybe a message says your account is locked or disabled, or maybe someone else changed your password and shut you out.
Whatever the trigger, getting back in is usually faster than it feels in the moment. Most people recover in minutes by resetting the password on a device they already trust. Only the worst cases (lost device, forgotten password, hijacked account) push you into Apple's slower recovery process.
This guide walks every verified route back into your Apple Account, ordered quickest and most common first. Start at the top, and drop down only if a faster method does not apply to you.
Read the Exact Message on Screen First
The wording of the alert tells you which fix you need, so read it before doing anything. Apple shows one of several distinct messages, and each maps to a different state.
A temporary lock reads "This Apple Account has been locked for security reasons" or "This Apple Account is locked and can't be used." A disabled state reads "This Apple Account has been disabled for security reasons" or "You can't sign in because your account was disabled for security reasons." A narrower lock reads "Your Media & Purchases account has been disabled."
Locked and disabled are not the same. A temporary lock can sometimes clear through a "Request Access" or unlock step, while a disabled account generally requires a full password reset. If the alert shows a "Request Access" button, you may be able to start there directly. If you see the Media and Purchases message, tap "Continue" from that alert (or use the reactivation request page) rather than running a full reset.
Reset Your Password on Your iPhone or iPad
If you are still signed in and know your device passcode, this is the fastest path. Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password, enter your device passcode, then follow the onscreen instructions to set a new password.
If Stolen Device Protection is enabled, you might be required to wait one hour before the change is allowed. That delay is normal security behavior, not an error.
If you hit a sign-in screen instead, tap "Forgot password?" (after choosing "Sign in manually" if prompted). On a new-device setup screen, tap "Forgot password or don't have an Apple Account?" and follow the steps to verify your identity and set a new password.
Reset Your Password on Your Mac
On a Mac you are signed in to, open the Apple menu > System Settings, click [your name], then click Sign-In & Security > Change Password. Enter the password you use to unlock your Mac, then follow the onscreen instructions.
If you are at a new-device setup screen instead, click "Forgot password" and follow the instructions from there.
Reset Your Password From a Web Browser
No Apple device handy? Any browser on any device works. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple Account email or phone number, select the reset option, and follow the onscreen steps. When a trusted device is available, the browser may redirect the reset to it.
If you only need to unlock a locked account rather than reset the password, go to iforgot.apple.com/unlock to request access instead.
Reset Your Password From a Borrowed Apple Device
If your own devices are unavailable, you can use a friend's iPhone or iPad without exposing your data; nothing from your account is stored on their device. Install and open the Apple Support app, scroll to Support Tools, and tap Reset Password.
- 1.Tap "Help Someone Else."
- 2.Enter your Apple Account email address or phone number.
- 3.Tap "Continue" and follow the onscreen instructions.
Request Access to a Locked or Inactive Account
When the alert says your account is locked or not active, tap "Request Access" directly from the alert if that button appears. Otherwise, visit iforgot.apple.com/unlock to make the same request.
Be prepared for this to fail. The request can be denied, and you may then see "This Apple Account is locked and can't be used." If that happens, move to account recovery below.
Use Account Recovery When You Cannot Reset the Password
If none of the resets above work because you do not know the password and have no trusted device to verify on, account recovery is your path back. It is the slowest method, so use it only when the quicker ones are exhausted.
- On iPhone, iPad, or Mac: in Settings or System Settings, try to sign in; when you do not know your password, you get the option to start account recovery.
- On the web: go to iforgot.apple.com, select Reset Password, and follow the steps to begin recovery.
Use the same Apple Account email or phone number you started the request with. Then turn off every other device currently signed in to your account until recovery completes, because an account that is in use during the request can cause your account recovery to be cancelled automatically. Wait for Apple to send a text or automated phone call with instructions, and check your status anytime by entering your email or phone at iforgot.apple.com.
This takes time by design. Apple states it might take several days or longer, with confirmation arriving within 72 hours by email or iMessage. Contacting Apple Support cannot shorten this period, so do not lose time trying to escalate.
Use Your Recovery Key if You Set One Up
If you previously created a 28-character recovery key, you can skip the long wait. When locked out, provide the recovery key plus a verification code sent to your trusted phone number, then follow the prompts to verify and reset your password.
To set one up in advance on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Recovery Key > Continue, then record and confirm the code. On a Mac, open the Apple menu > System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Recovery Key > Turn On > Use Recovery Key, enter your Mac password, record the code, then click Continue to confirm.
Store it carefully. Never keep it in Apple Passwords, iCloud Photos, Notes, or iCloud Drive, because those become inaccessible the moment you lose account access. If you do not know your password and have lost your trusted device, the recovery key becomes mandatory; without it you will be locked out permanently.
Get a Code From Your Recovery Contact
If you set up an account recovery contact ahead of time, that person can hand you back in. On your locked device, follow the onscreen steps and share the displayed instructions with your contact in person or by phone.
Your contact then generates a six-digit code on their own device. On iPhone or iPad they go to Settings > [their name] > Sign In & Security > Account Recovery > [your name] > Get Recovery Code. On a Mac they go to System Settings > [their name] > Sign In & Security > Account Recovery, select your name under "Account Recovery For," then choose Get Recovery Code.
Your contact reads you the six-digit code, you enter it on your device, and after verification you can reset your password. This only works if it was arranged in advance; it cannot be set up after you are already locked out. Setting it up also requires meeting Apple's prerequisites beforehand: two-factor authentication turned on, both people on iOS or iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, or macOS Monterey or later, both with iMessage turned on, and the account holder over 13.
Regain Control of a Compromised Account
If someone else changed your password or signed in, act fast to push them out. If you can still sign in at account.apple.com, change your password to a strong, unique one, then open Devices to review and remove any device you do not recognize, and correct any unrecognized personal or security information.
If you are fully locked out, go to iforgot.apple.com to start account recovery and complete the waiting period. Separately, confirm with your email and phone providers that you still control every contact address and number tied to the account. Once you are back in, make sure two-factor authentication is on and consider adding Security Keys.
When You Cannot Regain Access at All
If every route fails, you can create a new Apple Account and start fresh. If a device is stuck on Activation Lock and you have proof of purchase, start an Activation Lock support request at al-support.apple.com/#/kbase.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Apple account recovery take?
Apple states it might take several days or longer, with confirmation arriving within 72 hours by email or iMessage. There is no fixed number of days, and contacting Apple Support cannot speed it up.
Why must I turn off my other Apple devices during recovery?
If your account is in use on another signed-in device during the request, your account recovery can be cancelled automatically. Turn off every device currently signed in with your Apple Account until recovery is complete.
What is the difference between a locked account and a disabled one?
They are different states with different fixes. A temporary lock can sometimes clear through "Request Access" or the unlock page, while an account "disabled for security reasons" generally requires a full password reset.
I lost my password and my trusted device. Can I still get in?
Only if you have your 28-character recovery key, which you would have created in advance. Without both the password and a trusted device, and with no recovery key, you will be locked out of the account permanently.
Why is my password change blocked for an hour?
That is Stolen Device Protection. With it enabled, you might be required to wait one hour before you are allowed to change your Apple Account password.
My Media and Purchases account is disabled but I can still use everything else. What do I do?
That is a separate, narrower lock. Resolve it by tapping "Continue" from that specific alert or using a reactivation request, rather than running the main account unlock or password reset flow.
