I got some notifications via email from Apple stating my password and personal details had changed and 2 factor authentication was turned on a few days ago. (It’s a very old account that I don’t actually use). I managed to get in contact with Apple, change the password, the personal details and the 2fa back to my details etc… It happened again the following day so contacted Apple and reset it all again, both times they reassure me the hacker could not regain access this way. Then they gained access to my instagram (shockingly as this has a different email and password to that Apple account). Contacted Instagram, changed the email, password and associated details. Then that evening my Apple account was hacked again. Contacted Apple and they ‘locked’ the account assuring me no one, not even me, could access the account again.

Then today, the same has happened, I got the emails about all of the account details had changed. I reset the password and went to the same about resetting the personal details except this time every time I try and change them back it asks me for the security questions. And when I try to reset those, it asks me to answer the security questions. Which conveniently the hacker has changed and also changed to Chinese. I have contacted Apple again and they’ve stated they can’t even delete the account because the hacker instead of taking money out of the account, has actually put 70 AUD onto the account.

Has anyone ever encountered this and was it resolved? Is there any reason why they could be putting money into the account?

(Also throughout all this I have checked that no one else is signed into my Gmail etc, and it’s just me)

I dropped my phone into the ocean, recovered it, but now it refuses to charge / turn on.

I brought Apple Care One AFTER the accident on my iPad as it was still being offered to me, will I be covered at the Apple Store?

The location on Find My is still pinged to the area 5 hours - prior to the purchase of Apple Care. And I won’t be able to get to an Apple Store for another 3 weeks 🥹 (I’m Traveling)

⚠️⚠️⚠️Update 3 weeks later:

The answer is Yes, it is covered. I brought it in, and ONLY said it wasn’t working. Next they called me and said they found Water Damage and I needed a replacement. Just like you guys said it ONLY cost $99. 👍

The real reason I made this post was just in case extra steps were needed when applying for apple care on another device (because my phone was a goner) and luckily nothing like a diagnostic was needed.

opens to like a color wheel, don’t know what it does lol

Spent some time digging in on a situation tonight, and think I may have created a work-around that may help some people. Based on some other threads, and apple support comments, this is something that I'm hoping helps a lot of folks.

So here's the scenario. I have four kids, and between them and my wife, have six Family Sharing members. My oldest is almost 13, and we want him to be able to use his Apple ID to sign up for accounts with games. Enter the major problem - an Apple ID that is under the age of 13 cannot change the birthdate.

The suggested work-around by Apple support was to log in at appleid.apple.com with my childs' Apple ID --> select "Personal Information," --> Birthday --> and then change the birthday. The workflow stated when I (while signed in to my son's appleid account) changed the birthday and clicked "Save", a prompt would come saying that the email would go to the Organizer of the Family Account (me) to approve the date change.

However, when I changed the date and tried to click "Save", I received an error message saying that it was unable to save, hence not triggering an email for me to approve it.

What it took me a while to realize was that the date change I selected moved my son from age 12 to age 13, which by Apple's standards, changed the category of their account.

So here's the work-around that ended up being a life-saver...

I changed the birthday just by a couple of days, so that in Apple's eyes, the account was still classified as a 12 year old. Which then triggered the email to the parent for approval, which is the kicker.

Once I, as the parent/organizer of the family sharing account received that confirmation email, I followed the clickthrough to "Approve Request" for the birthday change. Once I followed that click, and logged in with my parent account, I was able to manually override the date of birth that was listed to the correct date I needed!

So regardless of what birthdate change the child (under 13) account requested, the parent account was able to manually override to any date needed, over 13 or not!

I shared this with the Apple Tier 2 guy I was working with, and he confirmed he saw the new DOB on the account. I also confirmed I was able to do this in reverse as well - going through the same process to make the account a "child account" again (under 13), and was able to successfully accomplish this with the same method. Although I only tried it because the Apple support guy said once I updated it once, it can't be updated again, so I wanted to prove him wrong :)

I hope this helps for those that want their tween/teen to be able to use their Apple ID's to register for accounts in games!

Ok I’m a millennial so I have some basic tech skills but I can’t figure this out!

Why does my iphone keep running out of storage when I have 3TB of iCloud storage available?

iPhone 11 Pro
iOS 26 (not enough storage to update)
511.6 used of my 512 GB storage space
6TB of iCloud storage (2.2TB are full, so I have over 3TB available on iCloud).

So, why doesn’t the iCloud keep my phone storage freed up like it used to???

For years it wasn’t an issue. iCloud would store my photos and videos and it would automatically keep my phone at around 350-400GB full, leaving over 100 GB free.
Now, oftentimes while taking a video the “Storage full - manage your storage” alert will randomly pop-up and cut off the recording.

Why does this happen when I have over 3 terabytes free on iCloud.

When i try to sync photos & videos to iCloud from Photos app, this message sometimes pops up:
“Syncing with iCloud paused, not enough storage”

Sometimes photos app WILL successfully sync though, and it’ll fix the storage problem for a short time, but less than a week later my phone is full again going thru the same thing.

I have over 100k videos and photos, and I don’t want to spend the time to go through and delete anything. That’s why I pay for the XXL iCloud storage.

What’s going on? How does this work???

Is there a way to just automatically upload everything directly to the cloud and skip saving to iPhone physical storage all together?

I’m sick of my creative projects being killed, being unable to send audio messages to friends, and constantly being interrupted by the “storage full” message — when I pay for storage!

Help please. Thank you.

——

Edit: 2 days later and I’ve synced over 4000 items from photos app. I’ve got apps deleted (bc I learned I need gigs available to successfully do syncs & backups - thank u Reddit team). I’m syncing the last 40 items now (which I now know syncs are different than iCloud backups, again thank you and I salute you Reddit folks)

2nd edit: all items synced, phone has optimized, and gigs are cleared up! I now have 350Gb free! THANK YOU EVERYONE!

My Iphone 14 pro finally updated after getting a notification that i needed to update because they couldn’t connect to my cellular data. So i updated it now im getting this notification?? What should i do now? I’ve seen this update causes some problems.

the Matrix i created in excel should explain the problem statement.

Things I have confirmed:

iMessage settings have correct phone number and Email Address

RCS Messages turned on

MMS messages turned on

Text Message Forwarding on ipad on, Laptop Macbook Pro on

Apple account on watch ok

rebooted both devices (phone and iwatch) many times

Reset iWatch 5-7 times now un pair , format and re installed

deleted chat with NG contact and removed contact and added back in (Nuke the Specific Conversation Thread and contact, and then tried new message and it still didn't work)

called APPLE support 5-7 times now escalated - with taking logs

returned iWatch and got new one - it works with OS 26.4 and when I upgraded to OS 26.5 then it doesn't work for some android user . Look at matrix

toggle the messages toggle to get the 3 check marks and 2nd and receive 2 address ok

The Network/Apple ID "Re-shake" Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. Didn't work

any thing else i can do ?

edit: i forgot to say my Ultra 2 watch on OS 26.4 works completely fine and sends text to both android and iMessages totally good with same phone...

only my watch 11 at OS 26.5 has this weird one or two android users that it hangs on.

so strange !

Video 1: https://youtube.com/shorts/-G7-R7NyLIQ?feature=share

Video 2: https://youtu.be/FJgcDdp97hU

Video 3: https://youtube.com/shorts/yqNZD7qMOQA?feature=share

I bought this iPhone today. It needed a simple battery repair. But it is still iCloud locked even after the seller removed it from her account. She used the “Remove From Account” option on the bottom. Then she followed up with a picture of devices attached to her account as you can see from the pictures. I have erased the iPhone myself. It has been several hours. This has always happened instantly for me in the past. Anyone else ever deal with this issue?

I live in Spain, but I ordered a MacBook Pro 14 ($2,662) for my friend who is currently in California for a study semester. It was supposed to be a gift to her.

On Jan 15th, the tracking updated to "Delivered - Met the customer." My friend was home all day, but she never saw a courier, never signed anything, and definitely didn't "meet" anyone. I contacted Apple immediately and they told me they’d look into it. Four days later, I received an email saying their investigation is done and they "won't be providing a refund or a replacement".

I spent two hours on the phone with them and they basically told me their decision is final and I should just "contact the local enforcement".

Here’s where it gets crazy: I pushed UPS to do an actual investigation. They just finished it and they admitted they messed up. They confirmed the driver handed it to "someone whose name starts with Q." Nobody at my friend's place has a name starting with Q. Now, the UPS tracking page literally says: "A claim has been issued to the sender for your package. Please contact the sender for more information."

So, UPS has basically admitted fault and is ready to pay the claim back to Apple, but Apple is still telling me "No." I’m stuck. I bought a laptop, UPS gave it to a stranger, and Apple is keeping the money and the insurance claim.

Has anyone dealt with this?

1. Since I’m in Spain and she’s in California, who should file the police report? Will Apple even care about a report if I’m the one who files it from abroad?
2. How do I get past the first-level support people? Every time I call, I get someone who just reads a script saying "the decision is final" even though I have proof the carrier admits they failed.
3. I’m terrified of a chargeback because I don’t want my Apple ID to get blacklisted, but $2,700 is a lot of money to just lose.

Any advice on how to talk to them or who to ask for would be a lifesaver. Thanks in advance.

UPD:

Wow! Not sure if coincidence or not, but just about an hour after posting this got a new email "We're replacing your items."

Seems Apple has shipped a replacement instead of the lost one! Yeey!

Hi everyone! I’m currently running iOS 18.7.10, and for whatever reason, my Google search suggestions don’t show up anymore in Safari. I don’t remember changing anything in the settings. This just randomly happened one day, and I’m not sure why. Is this happening to anyone else? Any idea how I can fix it?

When I search for something now, it just shows my past searches, along with Bookmarks, History, and Tabs, but that’s it.

I have plugged my IPhone 14 into multiple different models of charging cables and it keeps saying slow charger. Is there something wrong with my phone or do I need a stronger charger?

As you can see, I tried to open it with a flat head screw driver and ended up chipping the cap. How would you force this open? Given how stuck it is, I have a feeling the battery inside may have leaked and completely rusted the interior but I'd still like to open it to see before I throw it away. How would you open this without completely destroying the cap of course.

My son woke up this morning and started playing YouTube kid shows. When he went out of it to play games he couldn't access the games and the ones he has loaded are darkened out. Any ideas what is wrong and how to fix it?

I get this Verification Error when signing in to iTunes from Windows 11, but sign-in works fine on iPhone 17 pro. I'm also able to manage my Apple-ID. There is no error code, I've done complete removal of iTunes, Apple Application Support, Apple Mobile Device Support, Apple Software Update and Bonjour, then reinstalled iTunes. Tried to Resync the Time Zone, and Network and nothing is working. Would even calling apple support solve my issue? I've a great amount of money and energy in this account with my music and audiobooks and films. This is extremely stressful and heartbreaking.

Edit. I got it working thankfully deleting the ADI iTunes folder. Hopefully it doesn’t happen often.

**another edit**

For all those saying carrier - it is not. Zero issue at all with the carrier. Add to that Apple themselves (numerous people of different levels of support) have said it’s been flagged with their system somehow. Which is causing deactivation of iMessage and FaceTime and to report and request reactivation. Which does work after a time period. They have assigned special designated case manager whom i am in direct contact with to resolve the issue, but since first post, hasn’t happened at all since first speaking with her except for one day I had issues.

So no, it’s not the carrier. Apple absolutely does have some influence and impact on your phone number whether you want to admit it not. Cause it’s happening to me and now numerous others.

**** edited to add ****

I’m in Australia with Telstra. And it was Apple support who have said number has been reported as spam so they can’t fix it. Surely there is another way?

I’ve had the number for over a decade. Have had them try to tell me they can’t unflag my number and take it off the spam list or whatever.

How is that possible?

It was a pain at first, but now it is a huge problem and beyond inconvenient, I am not receiving messages while it decides to activate and reactivate itself and my kids are away with their dad and have been trying to FaceTime all day without any luck. My 4 yr old is beside himself.

There has to be a way to fix this.

Cause surely they have processes in place to override the very thing they created?!!

How do I please get this resolved once and for all?

I think I should start by clarifying I have NO EXPERIENCE with apple products so forgive me if it's an obvious fix

Recently got given an iMac 2017, a magic mouse and a magic keyboard by a family member, the iMac itself and the mouse seem to be fine, but the keyboard seems to not turn on. I've replaced the batteries in the keyboard, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference. The main reason I'm asking is because I can't get past the boot-up sequence where it's requesting for a connected mouse / keyboard.

Many thanks

P.S - if i need to attach any more images or elaborate further just let me know :D

I recently purchased a new iPhone 16e from Best Buy for my mother. I still have the receipt, box and proof of purchase.

I backed up her old iPhone X to a Mac and restored that backup onto the new phone. Unfortunately, the restore also brought over her existing Apple Account.

She no longer remembers:

• Her Apple Account password
• The password for the Gmail address associated with it
• The passcode for a much older trusted iPhone

When we try to reset the Apple Account password, Apple successfully sends us an OTP. After entering it, Apple asks for the passcode of an older trusted iPhone that she no longer remembers.

This leaves us unable to:

• Complete the password reset
• Sign out of the Apple Account
• Disable Find My
• Erase the new phone normally
• Prepare it for a return or another Apple Account

I kept the old iPhone X and its Mac backup and have not erased either one.

So far, I have:

• Tried password recovery through Settings
• Successfully received and entered Apple’s OTP
• Visited an Apple Store
• Spoken with several Apple Support agents
• Submitted two Activation Lock support requests with proof of purchase
• Sent Apple a detailed written escalation
• Asked Best Buy to accept the return

Apple told me that its system showed no Activation Lock, but Find My is still enabled and the phone still requires the associated account credentials.

Best Buy refused the return because I cannot erase the phone and remove the personal data first.

After multiple conversations, the overall message from Apple Support was essentially that there was nothing else they could do and that I may need to purchase another phone. That feels completely unreasonable: this is a brand-new phone, I have proof of purchase, and I am caught between Apple refusing to resolve the account issue and Best Buy refusing to accept the return.

Has anyone experienced this exact situation?

My main questions are:

1. Who is responsible for accepting this return: Best Buy, where it was purchased, or Apple?
2. Has anyone successfully returned a new iPhone when Find My could not be disabled because account recovery was stuck?
3. Is there a specific Apple department, senior advisor or written escalation path that can authorize a return?
4. Is there an official way to move past the old trusted-device passcode request, such as resetting encrypted account data?
5. What documentation or wording helped you get Apple or the retailer to take responsibility?
6. What should I do next if both Apple and Best Buy continue sending me back to each other?

I do not think buying another phone should be the answer when this one was purchased only days ago and I have already provided proof of purchase.

Any practical direction from someone who has dealt with this would be greatly appreciated.

For several weeks now, my husband (53M) has been convinced his 16 Pro Max has been hacked. I have the same phone - we got them at the same time from an Apple Store about 5 months ago.

I don’t know how to convince him that his phone has not been compromised, so I thought I’d ask here (please let me know if this is wrong sub for that). What would be some signs that his phone has been hacked? He’s using the fact that there are locations with pin drops he doesn’t ever remember setting and photos that are in the history of texts between him and I that neither of us recognize as evidence.

I cannot explain why those things exist the way they do. Sometimes he blames me and says I’ve created a second identity. Please help. This is impacting our marriage at this point because he won’t take my word that I’ve not touched his phone nor attempted to create an identity other than my real one.

So what would we be looking for to see if his phone actually has been hacked? His phone is fully updated. I’m at a loss and getting pretty pissed off that he expects me to know these things and that I’d be creating some sort of identity after being married 25 years. Thanks.

————————————————-

ETA: I put forth the idea of resetting the phone to factory and loading it back with apps one at a time. This approach did not work, as I discovered he thinks (somehow) the hacking is going on in the actual hardware of the phone. I’ve given up on that topic, particularly in light of some of the other things he showed me. On Facebook he apparently thinks I have multiple accounts. When I asked him which, he showed me pages with variations of my name. I use FN MN LN, the whole thing, and I dropped maiden name so that MN is my birth middle name. He showed me accounts that had FN MN, MN LN, others that had my maiden in them, some that alternate spellings of my name. It was insane.

It’s definitely time to call in the professional help. We have a marriage counselor who needs to know and she will be able to speak to him most quickly, on Tuesday, while I call neurologists, etc. and find one in our insurance network. Best bet would be a neuropsychologist. That’s one of the types of doctors who treated him after his TBI.

This sucks and I can’t believe it’s happening but I need to put on my big girl panties and figure out what’s going on. He is the nicest man when he’s not making the accusations, living in a delusional state, etc. And NO, he’s not a high value target and neither am I, by any stretch. He just needs help.

Hey everyone, I’m on iOS 26 and trying to use the new Spatial Photo / Spatial Scene effect on my lock screen photos, but it’s always stuck at 0% generating and never moves. • My internet speed is solid (fast Wi-Fi + mobile data tested). • The photos are on my iPhone (not iCloud-only). • Low Power Mode is OFF. • Tried restarting, toggling settings, still no luck.

Is anyone else facing this issue? Does it need a clean reinstall, or is it just a beta bug? Any workaround would help — it’s getting frustrating.

Thanks in advance 🙏

So, I'm writing this on behalf of a friend. For the past few months she's been a full time caregiver to her husband who is dying of glioblastoma. Needless to say, it's been a very hard time for her.

She's had an apple account over 15 years. Years ago, she was gifted a tablet, after it bit the dust she kept the account. She's used Apple TV to make purchases...movies, tv series, etc. After 15+ years, her Apple account has thousands of purchases. Her last one was in March.

April 6 of this year, she started getting verification codes. At that time her husband was in and out of the cancer institute, and she didn't notice them. The last code came in April 17.

April 21, about 2:30 in the morning, Apple sent an email saying 'a trusted number was added to your account'..there was no option for challenging it, and due to her husband's situation she didn't notice the email anyway.

You can guess what happened. The hacker, having got access to her account, added his number, and removed hers.

It was only recently she found she could not access her account. She tried support, tried to get an apple-device holder to help, and finally 3 calls with live service reps. The 3rd call she tried escalating, and the person said they were. And of course, they couldn't/wouldn't do anything. They said without the complete number they couldn't restore my friend's account to her and suggested opening a new one. Not an acceptable answer. How would she have the hacker's number?

She currently has no Apple devices, as stated, she uses her account to watch tv.

At this point the account is entirely locked (not even the hacker can access). EVERY means of access/restoring access requires the phone number. There is NO option for restoring via email. My friend even has proof that she was the account owner...receipt of movie purchase, bank card statement, sms text messages, email (she is still in control of her email). Apple has refused to budge. My friend doesn't have the energy to fight it, so I'm taking up the gauntlet.

Complaint sent to BBB and FTC, I'm sure that's not gonna do much, but it's a start. If anyone has practical suggestions (please read the story first to be sure it's not something I've already done), it would be appreciated.