Apple locked me out and says that's it?

[Henk van Ess]

(This thread has a happy end, keep reading)


Here is what happened.

I only use the ***@me.com as a mail account since 2000 (updated, typo) to get access to Mail. Mail works fine on my MBP16. On my M1, I tried to add the same **@me.com to get access to mail on M1. I get the following screens sequence, regardless of whether I add an internet account or go to I forgot. This is what happened:


1 . Signing in the mail on M1

2. Password accepted but locked out

3. Birthday correct

4. I forgot the spacing or capitals in one or more answers

I can use the locked out account on my MBP16, but as shown here, not on my M1. The question: why is my mail-identity working, but locked into an iCloud account security system?

All of you who want to send me friendly advise about password managers, 2FA etcetera, sure, but the main point is probably buried deep in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-locked-me-out-and-says-thats-it.2271904/post-29316909

 

[Apple_Robert]

Sounds correct to me.

You should have correctly written down your security information and stored it in a safe place.

 

[Henk van Ess]

Sounds correct to me.

You should have correctly written down your security information and stored it in a safe place.

But why do I still have access to my mail, via IMAP? I afraid now that I will lose that too, and that would be a disaster.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I should have, yes. But why do I still have access to my mail, via IMAP? I afraid now that I will lose that too, and that would be a disaster.

I am guessing you still have access because your current devices are still logged in. Should you have to log back into your iCloud account, you will lose access to your mail. I would say it is just a matter of time before you lose complete access.

 

[Henk van Ess]

So I can fetch my mail on MBP16, but as soon as I want to do that on M1, it doesn't allow me. That doesn't make any sense, either I am locked out or not.

 

[Henk van Ess]

I am guessing you still have access because your current devices are still logged in. Should you have to log back into your iCloud account, you will lose access to your mail. I would say it is just a matter of time before you lose complete access.

wow, that's hard to swallow. I know my password, birthdate, and answer to security questions, but only forgot where I used capital or not...

 

[Apple_Robert]

You screwed up. Time to start changing applicable email on any affected third party accounts.

 

[Henk van Ess]

But the mail address is gold... xxx@me.com

 

[Runs For Fun]

There’s not much more you can do at this point. I would recommend using a password manager in the future to keep track of these kinds of things.

 

[arn]

They won't let you answer security questions over the phone? Where capitals won't matter?

 

[Henk van Ess]

They won't let you answer security questions over the phone? Where capitals won't matter?

It's frustrating, I know the answers, I know my password, I know my birthdate..

 

[chabig]

They won't let you answer security questions over the phone? Where capitals won't matter?

Apple shouldn’t have the answers in plain text. They should only have hashes. So an agent would have to type it correctly too.

 

[Henk van Ess]

There’s not much more you can do at this point. I would recommend using a password manager in the future to keep track of these kinds of things.

sure, have that. but pw managers don't save security questions by default and besides that, it's not the point, I know the answers

 

[Henk van Ess]

Forget the whole security question thing here for a moment. It's Apple who locked my account for security reasons, probably because I travel a lot (before corona). Can't they unlock it for security reasons - my security?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Forget the whole security question thing here for a moment. It's Apple who locked my account for security reasons. Can't they unlock it for security reasons?

They could but, they have no way of confirming you are the rightful owner of the account. They won’t make exceptions to their protocol to unlock your account. If you create a new Apple ID, it will have 2FA turned on automatically.

 

[cdcastillo]

I'm in a Kafkaesque endless loop to get access to an iCloud account. Bottomline (quote helpdesk)


Okay, after talking with my senior advisor, unfortunately, you won't recover the Apple ID. If you were signed into the Apple ID section, you might be able to switch the security to two-factor, but since you're not and unable to get past the security questions, you're not going to be able to recover the Apple ID.


Here is what happened.

I only use the iCloud account to get access to my mail, so it's not fully disabled. Mail works fine on my MBP16. On my M1, I tried to add the same iCloud account to get access to mail on M1. I get the following screens sequence, regardless of whether I add an internet account or go to I forgot.
The password is still working, the birthday is accepted, but I don't know the right answer to the security questions because 1 or 2 have started with a capital, but I forgot which only have 3 chances). Here are some visuals:

1 . Signing in the mail on M1

View attachment 1680704

2. Password accepted but locked out

View attachment 1680707

3. Birthday correct

View attachment 1680708

4. I forgot where I put capitals and where not View attachment 1680709

The helpdesk of Apple said this.

Okay, after talking with my senior advisor, unfortunately, you won't recover the Apple ID. If you were signed into the Apple ID section, you might be able to switch the security to two-factor, but since you're not and unable to get past the security questions, you're not going to recover the Apple ID.

Is that really true?

Yes, sounds about right. It doesn't matter if there is only one difference (which letter is on caps) between the password you are trying and the one you (supposedly you) set: the truth is you DO NOT have neither the correct password nor the correct security questions.

It is the expected response from apple. Anyone could try to get at the account arguing what you are saying: "I do not know the password, I do not know the security questions, but believe me, it is I, the owner of the account".

 

[Henk van Ess]

They could but, they have no way of confirming you are the rightful owner of the account. They won’t make exceptions to their protocol to unlock your account. If you create a new Apple ID, it will have 2FA turned on automatically.

The id is 20 years old

 

[ian87w]

Forget the whole security question thing here for a moment. It's Apple who locked my account for security reasons. Can't they unlock it for security reasons?

Maybe with a subpoena from a court?
I'm afraid there's nothing you can do other than trying to remember your answers.

Imagine the other way around. Imagine if a hacker managed to get your password and guess your birthday (pretty easy through social engineering). It sucks, but security doesn't come with convenience.

 

[Henk van Ess]

Yes, sounds about right. It doesn't matter if there is only one difference (which letter is on caps) between the password you are trying and the one you (supposedly you) set: the truth is you DO NOT have neither the correct password nor the correct security questions.

It is the expected response from apple. Anyone could try to get at the account arguing what you are saying: "I do not know the password, I do not know the security questions, but believe me, it is I, the owner of the account".

I have the correct password, I'm logged in.

 

[Henk van Ess]

That is not true I have the correct password, I'm logged in.

Maybe with a subpoena from a court?
I'm afraid there's nothing you can do other than trying to remember your answers.

Imagine the other way around. Imagine if a hacker managed to get your password and guess your birthday (pretty easy through social engineering). It sucks, but security doesn't come with convenience.

Sure, but other companies ask for an ID in such cases to proof identity. Why not Apple?

 

[Henk van Ess]

Btw, @ian87w that's what I was thinking of yes, by legal means, so that I proof in court who I am.
But can I do that in my own country, The Netherlands, or must I start a procedure in the US? Anyone?

 

[ian87w]

Sure, but other companies ask for an ID in such cases to proof identity. Why not Apple?

ID an be stolen and faked. Some companies have stricter policies than others.
It sucks, but I can't blame Apple either. Imagine if the one asking is someone else, and not you.

 

[ian87w]

Btw, @ian87w that's what I was thinking of yes, by legal means, so that I proof in court who I am.
But can I do that in my own country, The Netherlands, or must I start a procedure in the US? Anyone?

I wouldn't know any legal procedures in your country. Try contacting a lawyer?

 

[cdcastillo]

That is not true I have the correct password, I'm logged in.

No you do not HAVE IT. You repeatedly tried to guess the password on your new Mac and failed. Your old Mac is currently logged in, and that's different.

I'm really sorry, and I sympathize with you, but the truth is you don't have neither the correct password nor the correct security questions (it doesn't matter if you have 99% of it or 5% of it), that's how you arrived to this situation.

If I were you, I would set some kind of forwarding email from the account you are soon to lose access to. In the old Mac, I mean. That way you won't loose access to the emails sent to that account.

 

[McScooby]

Can you not unlock the account using the password & then reset your security questions as per guidance here - https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204106 & I'm guessing semantics aside when you say you know your password, that's not the thing where the caps are mixed up (if this is an issue, check out keychain access on the mac using your computer password to see the one you've got in mail)?