appleID keeps locking

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Level 1

9 points

appleID keeps locking

Prior to 2020, my AppleID might ask me to sign in again a couple of times a year, but it would never lock, asking me to unlock it with security questions (I intentionally don't use 2FA). Then in 2020, there

was a known bug that caused some people's ApID to lock them out monthly, then weekly, and for some, daily. There were many threads about it in this forum. 2FA did not solve the problem for those who tried it.

After Apple seemed to fix that problem, I went back to monthly, and then eventually, every few months when I'd get locked out again. It went back to monthly a couple of months ago, and now it is back to weekly. I am not sure why, but I am wondering if others are having this problem again.

So anyone else having this problem? Does anyone know what could be causing it?

iPhone 6s, iOS 15

Posted on Oct 9, 2023 4:07 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

427,103 points

Oct 9, 2023 7:22 PM in response to sbwinter2

I have never been locked out in almost 20 years of having an Apple ID. That said, you need to determine what it is that is causing this since it is not normal. I am also unfamiliar with any "bug" that was causing Apple IDs to be locked. Typically the higher level security requirements are when you are doing particular things such as signing in on a device that has not been used before, or getting access to certain features of your account. Since I rarely do do either this probably explains some of the difference.

Since what is you describe is neither standard, nor a common occurrence (I have been on this forum regularly for alost 20 years and I have no memory of a 2020 "bug" causing this), you will really have to do some careful diasnosis of what exactly it is you are doing that is causing you to have to sign in so frequently.

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Answer 2

sbwinter2 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 9, 2023 7:38 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks for your reply. Yes, there were many, many people complaining about the same issue in 2020 when businesses were locked down, and Apple staff couldn't get to the server that was causing the problem, according to people who posted. Once staff could get back into the building for work, the problem went away, for the most part. But, like I mentioned, while I wasn't getting locked out before, I did have to verify my appleID at least a couple of times a year, and this was before they even had 2FA. And I have had to deal with it with different frequencies since. I just wanted to check if there were others again.

Some thought it might be an old device on their account causing an issue, but others, who had the problem did not. And it is advised that you not remove old devices if you still want them associated, even if you don't log into them on the device (and I even still use a few for other purposes). It was concluded that it was not something constantly trying to break into their account/device.

There is no pattern as to time of day or something I am doing, or even after I do a specific action (like load a new app or add a new device). It has even happen to me, a couple of times, when I have been traveling, so almost all of my devices are shut off except the couple of have. The only pattern I noticied was when it was monthly, it was almost exactly a month apart. And when weekly, it was almost exactly a week apart.

Thanks again!

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appleID keeps locking

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