An Apple ID is an account created with Apple that allows you to access Apple services like iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, iMessage, FaceTime, and more. You use your Apple ID email address and password to sign in to these services across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and on the web at appleid.apple.com.
There are a few main reasons why someone may need to recover their Apple ID without access to their trusted phone number or devices:
- Forgotten password and unable to reset it because you can’t access the trusted phone number or devices on your account
- Lost or stolen device that was a trusted device on your account
- Hacked account and the hacker removed your trusted devices
Being locked out of your Apple ID can prevent you from accessing important data in iCloud like photos, documents, and more. That’s why it’s crucial to know how to recover your account securely in this situation.
Verify Account Ownership
If you no longer have access to your trusted phone number or device for receiving verification codes to access your Apple ID, you can verify account ownership through security questions and email instead. Here are the steps:
- Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID.
- Select “Answer security questions” and answer two security questions to confirm you are the account owner.
- If you don’t have security questions set up, select “Get verification code” and the code will be emailed to your Apple ID email address on file.
- Enter the verification code emailed to you to verify account ownership.
Once you successfully answer security questions or enter the emailed verification code, you will be able to reset your password and regain access to your Apple ID.
Use Account Recovery Process
Apple has an account recovery process that allows you to regain access to your Apple ID without needing access to your trusted phone number or device (Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204921). This involves verifying your identity by answering security questions and providing personal information.
The steps for the account recovery process are:
- Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID email address.
- Select that you don’t have access to your trusted phone number or devices.
- Answer a series of security questions to verify account ownership. These may include questions about addresses, phone numbers, payment details, and more associated with your Apple ID.
- Provide additional personal information like your birthday, last password you remember, and first Apple device you owned.
- Apple will review your information and send verification codes via email and postal mail to confirm your identity.
- Enter the verification codes Apple sends you to complete the account recovery process.
This process may take several days for Apple to fully verify your identity. Be patient and respond promptly to any communication Apple sends during the recovery process (Source: https://www.aiseesoft.com/resource/apple-id-recovery.html).
Contact Apple Support
If you are unable to recover your Apple ID through the account recovery options, you can contact Apple Support directly for assistance via phone or chat:
To contact Apple Support by phone:
- Call 1-800-275-2273 in the United States
- Call the international phone number for your country listed at https://support.apple.com/en-euro/106932
Explain your situation to the Apple Support representative and they can assist you with accessing your account.
To contact Apple Support via chat:
- Go to https://support.apple.com/contact
- Select Chat as the contact method.
- Choose Account & Security as the topic.
- Explain that you cannot access your Apple ID and need help recovering it.
The chat representative can walk you through your options to regain access to your Apple ID.
Contacting Apple Support directly provides you with personalized assistance in recovering your Apple ID when you’ve exhausted all other options.
Use Friends or Family Devices
One way to recover your Apple ID without access to your trusted devices is by using a friend or family member’s iPhone, iPad, or Mac that you have previously marked as “trusted” for account recovery purposes. According to Apple Support, “If you turned on account recovery options for a friend or family member, they can help you reset your password and regain access to your account.” [1]
To do this, your friend or family member will need to go to Settings > [Their Name] > Password & Security > Account Recovery on their iPhone or iPad. Or on a Mac, they can go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security > Account Recovery. From there, they should be able to see your account listed and can generate a recovery key to reset your Apple ID password.
The key benefit of using a trusted friend or family member’s device is that it does not require access to your phone number or any of your existing Apple devices. As long as you previously configured your Apple ID to allow account recovery from their device, this can be a convenient way to get back into your account when locked out.
Visit an Apple Store
If you are unable to recover your Apple ID through the online methods, visiting an Apple Store and speaking to an Apple Genius is another option. The Genius Bar at Apple Stores offers customers free tech support and troubleshooting for Apple products and services (https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/).
To recover your Apple ID at the Genius Bar, you will need to schedule an appointment online or walk into a store and request assistance. You should also bring a government-issued photo ID to verify your identity. The Apple Genius can then work with you to access your account and reset your password. This is done through Apple’s internal system and usually does not take long.
Getting in-person support provides the advantage of working one-on-one with an Apple expert. They can answer any questions you have and walk you through the process. This is helpful if you have gotten stuck trying to recover your account online. The downside is you need to physically go to an Apple Store, which may not be convenient depending on your location.
Reset Password
If you regain access to your Apple ID account, you can reset your password through Apple’s password reset process. This allows you to create a new, secure password for your account.
To reset your Apple ID password, follow these steps:
- On your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, open the Settings app.
- Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
- Select “Sign-In & Security”.
- Tap on “Change Password”.
- Enter your current password if prompted.
- Enter and confirm your new password.
- Tap “Change” to save the new password.
You can also reset your Apple ID password online by going to https://iforgot.apple.com/ and following the account recovery steps. Be sure to create a strong, unique password to improve security.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
One of the most important steps users can take to secure their Apple ID is to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA provides an extra layer of security by requiring two forms of authentication when logging into your Apple ID or making changes to the account.
With 2FA enabled, in addition to entering your password, you will also need to provide a temporary verification code. This verification code is either sent as a text message to your trusted phone number or generated in the two-factor authentication app on your trusted device.
By requiring this second factor, 2FA makes it much more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access to your account, even if they have obtained your password through phishing or other means. According to Apple’s support site (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915), enabling 2FA reduces the risk of unauthorized access to your account to less than .001%.
Therefore, all Apple ID users should take advantage of this important security feature. Enabling 2FA provides significant peace of mind that your sensitive personal data and files stored in iCloud are protected from unauthorized access.
Check iCloud and Find My iPhone
After recovering your Apple ID, it’s important to check iCloud and Find My iPhone to ensure everything is working properly. Here are the steps:
On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the Settings app and tap on your name at the top. This will show you the iCloud settings for your device. Make sure iCloud Backup and other iCloud features like Photos are enabled. You can also check if Find My iPhone is on from this screen.
On a Mac, open System Preferences and click on Apple ID. Make sure Find My Mac is enabled if you want to use Find My iPhone to locate your Mac. You can also check which iCloud features are enabled from here.
Go to icloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. You should see apps like Photos, Mail, Contacts, Calendar and more if you have iCloud enabled on your devices. Check that your content is present and up to date.
If you need to re-enable iCloud or Find My iPhone, follow the instructions for your device. Key features may have been disabled during the account recovery process.
Conclusion
There are several ways to recover an Apple ID account without having access to the phone number or a trusted device. The easiest is to go through Apple’s account recovery process and verify your identity using personal information. You can also contact Apple Support directly and explain your situation. As a last resort, you can visit an Apple Store and show ID to prove account ownership.
After regaining access, it is highly recommended to add trusted devices like another iPhone, iPad or Mac. Enabling two-factor authentication is another important security step, requiring a 6-digit verification code any time you sign into your Apple ID. Finally, checking Find My iPhone can help locate missing devices logged into your Apple ID.
By taking proactive measures like these, you can avoid being locked out of your account in the future. Having backup verification options and extra security ensures you’ll always be able to recover important online accounts like your Apple ID.