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How to unlock a disabled Apple ID

Are you having trouble with a locked or disabled Apple ID? Read on for how to unlock your Apple ID.

For account security, Apple will automatically lock or disable an Apple ID when too many incorrect password attempts are made. Here are some of the messages you might see:

  • “This Apple ID has been disabled for security reasons”
  • “You can’t sign in because your account was disabled for security reasons”
  • “This Apple ID has been locked for security reasons”

Follow along below for what to do next.

How to unlock a disabled Apple ID

  1. Head to iforgot.apple.com
  2. Enter your Apple ID email
  3. Follow along with the prompts to unlock your account
  4. If you’re not successful, you can call Apple support at 800-APL-CARE (800-275-2273) or chat with an Apple specialist

Keep in mind you’ll need to update your Apple ID password on your various Apple devices after changing it. Learn more about locked and disabled account on Apple’s support page here.

For more help getting the most out of your Apple devices, check out our how to guide as well as the following articles:

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Avatar for Michael Potuck Michael Potuck

Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.