Unable to access 10 years of iCloud files after Apple locked my Apple Account


Apple locked may account and now I can get into may account or iCloud. I have about 400 files and 40 video I created over the last 10 years and can't open any of them now. My life is totally ruining for the time being. They say if knowledge is in your head then it can't be destroyed. If you value your life, I would advise you to get an external drive for back up to avoid this catastrophe event happening to you. Apple dropped a nuclear bomb and I was at ground zero.


Time to get up off the ground and dust myself off and go to work.


[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: 10 years gone

iMac 24″, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 8, 2025 4:40 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
3 replies

Nov 8, 2025 7:17 PM in response to cozyhomelife

I see you apparently have an account access problem but have not provided the exact error message which would indicate a specific solution. The support article If your Apple Account is locked, not active, or disabled - Apple Support has solutions for three frequently encountered reasons for an account to be disabled/locked/not-active:


If a message says 'Your Media & Purchases account has been disabled' - Apple Support or "You cannot login because your account has been locked”you might be able to request reactivation by tapping Continue right from the alert, if available. If that does not work, Apple provides a link for this specific issue. Tap or click here and choose a self-help or contact method ➞ https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=kbase&PGF=PGF63005&category_id=SC0245&symptom_id=23362 .


● If your account has been disabled for “security reasons” the solution is to reset your password as outlined in this document: If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support

If you find you can’t sign in, reset your password, or receive verification codes, you can request account recovery (read this support article: How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support ) to regain access to your account. More detail in —> Activation Lockout Issues - Apple Community For additional assistance from Apple Security, read: Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


● If your account says “Account [is] locked”, or it is inactive, you might be able to request access to your account by tapping Request Access right from the alert. If that does not work, this link (versus one taking you to the general support page) is the most direct way to get to the people helping you with this —> https://getsupport.apple.com/?PGF=PGF63005&category_id=SC0245&symptom_id=23626


or by telephone at one of the numbers in this support article --> Contact Apple Support - Apple Support


Additional reasons:


● According to various posts, Apple may permanently lock accounts for other reasons (very broadly outlined in section VII-B of Legal - iCloud - Apple ). That may be the case here if none of the previous reasons apply to you. If it isn’t apparent, contact Apple and ask if that is the situation, but don’t expect them to tell you why. You, or somebody who has managed to get access to your account, are likely doing something Apple is interpreting as account misuse. You will have to see if your activities could be construed—rightly or wrongly—as meeting any of Apple's conditions in the support article. You will need to create a new account and stop doing things the way you have been that may have caused the other account to be locked.

In this situation you may be able to still use your equipment with a new account or even no account at all. Apple can completely reset a device if a person can provide sufficient evidence of valid ownership. Check the requirements and steps at: Activation Lock support request - https://al-support.apple.com/#/additional-support Apple says, "Proof of ownership documentation is required," but does not detail what currently constitutes proof other than it “must include the product serial number, IMEI or MEID.” Apple may typically require the original receipt* issued by Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. If Apple resets the device this will give you access to the device but won't restore access to the account used to lock it. There is nothing that can be done to expedite an Activation Lock request.


*Apple recommends you "Keep your receipt after you buy an Apple device" --> https://support.apple.com/HT202711


● If you deactivated your account, see the section about "Can I reactivate my account?" —> https://support.apple.com/HT208503


If it's another reason then post here with details.


The first thing I learned when starting with computers 40 years ago was to make backups of everything. Losing an account would be an inconvenience but not a crisis since I have multiple copies of all my files. It is unfortunate you have only been told about that now.

Unable to access 10 years of iCloud files after Apple locked my Apple Account

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.