What to expect during account recovery
Account recovery helps you regain access to your Apple Account when you can’t reset your password. Learn what to expect during the wait, how to check your status, and the few things to do (and not to do) while you wait. Apple Support can't shorten the wait period.
If you haven't started account recovery, first try to change or reset your password to regain access to your account. Learn how...
What to expect
Confirmation email — You’ll receive a confirmation email (or iMessage for accounts that use only a phone number) with the specific date and time that you can expect to regain access to your Apple Account. This email arrives within 72 hours after you start account recovery.
Wait period — For your security, account recovery might take several days or longer. This delay is inconvenient, but it’s important so that Apple can keep your account and information safe. Contacting Apple Support can’t help shorten the wait.
Email and text or automated call when your account is ready — When your account is ready, Apple will contact you with next steps via email and by text or an automated phone call at the phone number used to start account recovery.
What not to do during the wait
A few things will interrupt or cancel your recovery request.
Don't contact Apple Support to try to shorten the wait. They can't shorten the wait. The waiting period is fixed.
Don't submit another request. Unless you find additional recovery factors, submitting another won't speed up the process and might extend the wait.
What to do with your Apple devices during the wait
If you started account recovery on a device with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or macOS 27 or later, you can continue to use the device that you used to start account recovery.
If you started account recovery on the web, turn off all your Apple devices during the account recovery wait.
If you have another Apple device where you’re already signed in to your Apple Account, you can change your Apple Account password on that device. Your account recovery request will be canceled and you’ll be able to access your account with the new password.
If you can’t change your password on that device — for example, if you’ve forgotten the passcode — turn it off. Using an Apple device signed in to your account will cancel your account recovery request.
If you don't receive the confirmation email
Wait the full 72 hours from when you started account recovery. Then check your spam or junk folders. If you still can’t find it, go to iforgot.apple.com and check whether your request is active.
If it's active, you can find the expected time for recovery on the website. The email might have been delayed.
If it's not active, your request might not have been submitted successfully or it might have been canceled (for example, if you used a device where you are signed in with your Apple Account during the wait). You can submit a new request to start again.
How to check your status
To check your status, review the confirmation email for your expected completion time or when more information will be available.
You can also check your status on iforgot.apple.com. Make sure to enter the same information (including the same email address and phone number) that you used to start the request. Otherwise, you might extend the wait period.
When the wait is over
Apple will send you an email and contact you by text or automated phone call at the phone number used to start account recovery with instructions to regain access to your account.
If you don't receive the text or call, you can go directly to apple.com/recover after the time shown in your confirmation email.
How to cancel
If you remember your password and sign in successfully, your recovery request cancels automatically and you can use your Apple Account immediately.
If you didn't request account recovery, someone may be trying to access your account. Use the cancellation link in the confirmation email immediately, then consider changing your password and reviewing your account security.
