By North State Free Coast Syndicate
You buy the phone. You set up the account. You save your music, your photos, your memories. Then one day, you try to log in—and you’re told to prove who you are like you’re breaking into Fort Knox.
Across the country, regular people are finding themselves permanently locked out of their own Apple accounts, victims of an “account recovery” system so convoluted it might as well be a trap. And for many, there’s no way back in.
From Sacramento to South Carolina, stories are stacking up: people trying to stream music to their TV, access a photo from their late grandma, or just reset a password—and hitting a digital brick wall. The kicker? Apple rarely offers a human being to help.
“They wanted the security code on a credit card I had ten years ago,” said one user. “I don’t even remember where I lived back then, let alone what my billing zip code was.”
This is not an isolated issue. Apple ID is the most forgotten password in the United States, according to data published by NordPass. Online platforms like Reddit and Apple’s own support forums contain thousands of posts from users reporting nearly identical experiences—being locked out due to forgotten passwords, outdated emails, or hardware upgrades.
A survey conducted by ExpressVPN found that 52% of Americans reset a password at least once a month, with 21% doing so more than once a week. Four percent of respondents said they reset passwords more than four times a day—adding up to over 100 hours per year spent just trying to get back into their own accounts. Online platforms like Reddit and Apple’s own support forums contain thousands of posts from users reporting nearly identical experiences—being locked out due to forgotten passwords, outdated emails, or hardware upgrades.
The process, often triggered by a forgotten password or an old email no longer accessible, leads into a loop of verification steps that many users can’t complete. The end result? Apple tells them they can’t help.
Apple describes the system as a security feature. Critics argue it prevents legitimate users from accessing their own accounts. Once locked out, users lose access to iCloud-stored documents, photos, contacts, app purchases, and other essential data.
Journalists and tech analysts have begun documenting the scale of the issue. Forums and comment sections contain hundreds of firsthand stories. YouTube channels have emerged to walk people through complex recovery processes, sometimes requiring weeks of effort and multiple device logins.
Apple has offered no formal response to the growing volume of complaints. The company’s public relations team typically points to its standard security guidelines and does not comment on specific cases. While Apple’s market value exceeds $2 trillion, many users facing account issues report feeling ignored by support channels.
Apple’s revenue model relies heavily on iPhone sales. In recent years, the iPhone has accounted for more than half of the company’s total revenue. If user dissatisfaction increases—and if competitors offer comparable hardware with more responsive support—Apple could see changes in long-term customer loyalty.
The company’s ecosystem is a major selling point, connecting hardware, software, and services under one login. But that same system, when malfunctioning, can also lock users out of nearly everything they’ve purchased. Some users have been forced to abandon accounts and start over entirely.
At a time when tech companies emphasize user experience, the experience reported by many Apple customers locked out of their accounts stands in sharp contrast. A forgotten password or outdated email has, in many cases, led to complete loss of access with little recourse.
Until the system is improved, many users remain at risk of losing access to their digital lives over a single login issue.
