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iCloud keeps asking for password

iCloud keeps asking for password on iPhone, iPad, and Mac? How to fix

By 31 comments Last updated March 16, 2020

Recently, my Dad says that iCloud isn’t working for him.  He signs in to iCloud and then a few minutes later, a pop-up appears asking him to sign in to iCloud again. And again. And…you get the picture. My Dad was stuck within an iCloud login loop.

My Dad isn’t alone.  Many iPhone, iPad and Mac users are annoyed with constant iCloud sign-in requests. It’s, unfortunately, a well-known problem, aptly named the iCloud login loop bug.

You may experience this iCloud login loop bug after an update. You are asked to enter your iCloud password, and the popup message goes away.

But only temporarily, after a short time (usually after a reboot) that iCloud popup reappears asking for the password AGAIN.iCloud keeps asking for password iCloud login loop bug

I walked my Dad through the steps listed below, and it worked!  So I thought I’d share the fixes for this iCloud login loop bug that worked for him, just in case you too have this iCloud issue.

If you are repeatedly prompted to sign in to iCloud on your Mac, iPad or iPhone, here is how to fix it.

So let’s get to it!

Related articles

First, Let’s Check that iCloud is Working

Check that Apple’s iCloud is working correctly and that this iCloud login loop bug isn’t a system or server problem on their side. Visit apple’s system status on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and check that all services are green.iCloud keeps asking for password (iOS and OS X); fix iCloud login loop bug

You’ll see if there is a problem with iCloud at Apple’s end.  If so, wait a couple of hours to see if Apple fixes the problem.

Verify your Apple ID payment information

Oftentimes, the payment information on file needs to be updated or changed.

Update or change your payment method using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > Apple ID > iTunes & App Store or go to Settings > Apple ID > Payment & Shipping
  2. For iTunes & App Store, tap your Apple ID then tap View Apple ID View Apple ID Information on iPhone using iOS 11
    1. Tap Manage Payments
    2. If you don’t see this option and you are part of a family sharing plan, ask your family organizer to update the payment method
  3. Make any necessary updates or changes to your payment methods

Update or change your payment method on your Mac

  1. Open the App Store on your Mac
  2. Click your name or the sign-in and choose View Information
  3. Next to Payment Information, click Manage Payments Mac App Store manage payments
  4. Update, add or remove a payment method

If you can’t edit your payment information and you are part of Family Sharing, ask the family organizer to update the payment information.

Next, Check Your WiFi Connection

The iCloud login loop bug is often caused by a faulty Wi-Fi connection.  So the easiest way to fix this is to power down your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, wait a few minutes, and then power your device back up.

 How-To Turn Your iPhone Off and On

  1. Hold down the Sleep/Wake button until Slide To Power Off appears
    1. For users with iOS 11 or above, go to Settings > General > Shut Down
  2. Slide the power icon to the right
  3. Wait around 30 seconds for the screen to go completely black
  4. Press the Sleep/Wake button to switch the phone back on how to turn on iPad

You may need to enter in your iCloud ID and Password.

If none of the steps above helped you, we have some additional fixes for you for iDevices and Macs that are experiencing the iCloud login loop bug.

How-To Fix iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad iCloud login loop bug

You see this message: Sign In to iCloud. Enter the Apple ID password for “[email protected]”icloud repeated password pop up iCloud login loop bug

So let’s clear up iCloud so we get it working again and eliminate these annoying pop-ups!

  1. Tap Settings > Apple ID Profile
  2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out
    1. A message saying: Sign Out of iCloud
    2. Tap Sign Out
    3. A second message pops-up stating “Delete Account.”
    4. Tap “Delete From My iPad” or “Delete From My iPhone.”
      1. Enter your password
      2. Tap “Turn Off”
      3. It takes a few seconds to sign out

Check Your Apple ID online

Visit Apple’s online site for Apple IDs. Sign in and at your rescue or backup email address. Is that backup email address associated with a different Apple ID?

If it is, log into your iDevice using that backup email address and its password and then log out and log back in with your updated and current Apple ID.

If your rescue email is not another Apple ID, continue following the steps below.

Is two-factor authentication on?

If so, go to Apple’s site for Apple IDs and disable two-factor authentication, then try to sign in to Apple ID on the device again. If this method works, re-enable your two-factor authentication on the site once you confirm your Apple ID, iCloud, and iTunes & App Stores all work as expected.

Now let’s restart your iPhone or iPad

  1. Perform a Forced Restart
    1. On an iPhone 6S or below plus all iPads with home buttons & iPod Touch 6th generation and below, press Home and Power at the same time until you see the Apple logo
    2. For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus and iPod touch 7th generations: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo
    3. On an iPhone 8 and above and iPad with no home: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side/Top button until you see the Apple logo
  2. Tap Settings > Apple ID Profile > Sign In Sign in to Apple ID on your iDevice
  3. Enter your Apple ID and password to sign back into iCloud

This should fix the iCloud login loop bug for you.

How-To Fix macOS and Mac OS X iCloud login loop bug

If your Mac keeps asking for your iCloud password, here is how to resolve:Mac Keep asking iCloud iCloud login loop bug

First, Stop iCloud Syncing

  1. Go to System Preferences
  2. Select Apple ID or iCloud
  3. Uncheck all the boxes

iCloud keeps asking for password (iOS and OS X); fix iCloud login loop bug

Don’t sign out of iCloud just yet.  We’ll need to sign out in a couple of other places before we turn off iCloud completely.

Next, Disconnect iCloud from Applications

  1. Open Facetime
  2. Go to Facetime > Preferences
  3. Select Settings
  4. Click Sign Out

You’ll need to perform these same steps of signing out for Messages, Reminders, Calendar, iTunes, the App Store, Find My Mac, Back to My Mac, and Mail.

Now, Sign Out of iCloud

  1. Go to System Preferences
  2. Select Apple ID or iCloud
  3. Select Sign Out  iCloud keeps asking for password (iOS and OS X); fix iCloud login loop bug
  4. Close System Preferences
  5. Restart Computer
  6. Go to System Preferences
  7. Select Apple ID or iCloud
  8. Sign in to iCloud with Apple ID and password
  9. Select which services you want to sync with iCloud

Reader Tips 

  • Open your phone, then come back to a laptop or computer and enter your iCloud password. You should see a 6 digits code on your phone. It says something like “enter your iCloud password followed by this 6 digits number”. So, type your password and this code you got from the phone right next to it
  • Stop the Apple ID/iCloud password nag by signing out of iCloud, restarting your device, and then signing back into iCloud/Apple ID on the device in the Settings Menu
  • What finally worked was verifying my credit card information that is associated with my Apple ID
  • I found the problem emanated from my Mac and iCloud Keychain. On your Mac log in to Keychain and look for any multiple entries with the same login credentials. Once located, delete the duplicate(s) and restart your Mac. Then try your iDevice again
  • Try a full restore to stop the hourly prompt for your Apple ID/iCloud password. Remember to first manually sign out of FaceTime and iMessage. And perform a backup FIRST before you do anything! Then use iTunes to restore and reconnect to your backup

Wrap Up

It’s no fun when you are stuck in an iCloud login loop bug!  Hopefully one of the steps above resolved your problem.  If not, you may need to Backup and Restore your iPhone, iPad, or another iDevice.  Check our articles on how to backup and restore.

For Mac computers, you may have a corrupted user account.  See our article on how to fix corrupt user accounts.

Let us know in the comments if you have any additional fixes for this iCloud login loop bug.

Related: An extra level of backup for your iPad, iPhone & iPod touch

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Show 31 Comments

  1. Forester says

    I tried all of these unsuccessfully. What finally worked was VERIFYING the credit card associated with the Apple ID. iTunes / Account / Manage Payments.

    Reply

  3. Darlene Kuhn says

    Anybody else tired of having to type in 8 characters with at least 2 numbers and 4 caps, repeatedly, again and again, and then confirming each time : Two hours to log in –so far–in this Apple ID loop . WOW, just WOW.

    Reply

  5. Rudi Wolff says

    THANK YOU SO MUCH! The iCloud loop had been bugging me for ages, and now it’s taken care of, by following the steps outlined in this article. I’m very grateful.

    Reply

  6. EmeraldCity says

    Thanks for the lengthy tutorial.

    But this problem is ridiculous.

    It has been happening on every iOS device I’ve owned over the years and still happens.

    To go through pages of steps to get the pop up out of my face to fix this issue is just a shame.

    Shows Apple’s disregard for the user experience it seems so desirous to protect and reward.

    Back to basics Apple. Make your devices work, basically.

    Reply

  7. Viviane Silverman says

    Thanks so much for taking the time to post these suggestions.

    I was so frustrated that I could not even open up my iPad because I could not get beyond the Sign In Loop.

    I could not get into the Settings, because of the Loop.

    I was ready to pay a consultant or go to the Genius Bar, which is far from my home.

    Following your suggestion, I just turned off the iPad, waited a few minutes, then turned it on again.
    Voila!

    No more Loop. I could log in normally using my four-digit code, and get to all the apps.

    The sun shines once more.

    Thank you, thank you!

    Viviane

    Reply

  8. Russ McLean says

    Stuff that.

    The fact that Apple makes such huge profits and have so many basic flaws that they have generic names like “login loops” is an utter disgrace.

    Whoever wrote this page, thank you for trying.

    But my life is short and there is little time to study a minor Ph.D. in Apple iPhone software repair as per the above narrative. Your dissertation will help some.

    For me — I just binned the Apple iPhone. Very expensive and very satisfying. When enough customers leave Apple and the share price collapses, maybe one of the well paid IT geniuses will launch a product that isn’t crap.

    P.S. Just checked Apple share price. Historically good, but in the last few months of 2018/early 2019 the Apple Share price IS collapsing. Was $225. Now $148. Ouch, Best get those login-loop-bugs a ton of other lazy errors fixed.

    Reply

  10. onehoop says

    Let’s just pause and reflect on the fact that this has been going on for over 3 years now and Apple doesn’t care! One of the steps is to disable two-factor authentication, but recently it became policy that you can not disable two-factor authentication (after two week test period). I recently allowed two-factor authentication on my phone, thinking “sure, why not?” and now I am convinced that it is causing problems on my computer (which does not have it enabled).

    Reply

  11. sunnyH says

    Why Apple can’t make their bureaucracy more user-friendly when everything in the tech industry is super efficient is beyond me. There must be a less annoying way of recovering Apple ID than a 24-hour wait.

    Reply

  12. Margarete Bignall says

    Thanks for sharing this information.Have shared this link with others keep posting such information..

    Reply

  13. Mark Pruitt says

    None of this works. My wife has no idea what her apple id password is – it was set up by her previous husband, WHO DIED OVER THREE YEARS AGO. This constant icloud password request garbage just started out of the blue yesterday. Stupid ipad is unusable because it pops up every 15-30 seconds!

    What’s a good fix?

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Mark,

      Sorry to hear about your wife’s troubles on her iPad. This problem usually surfaces just after updating the iDevice’s iOS to a new version.

      Since your wife does not know the password, would she possibly know and have access to the email address associated with the Apple ID? If so, then she can likely change the password using Apple’s iForgot site.

      Reply

  14. GM. says

    Open you phone, then comeback to laptop and enter iCloud password. You’ll get a 6 digits code in your phone. It says CLEARLY something like “enter your iCloud password followed by this 6 digits number”.
    So, you have to type your password and this code you got from the phone right next to it, y listo!

    Reply

    • PMarie says

      @GM Thank you! This was the fix for my Mac.

      I had to enter the code after my password twice, so initially I did not think this would work, but it did.

      Now when I restart my Mac, it does not even ask me for the password.

      Previously it would repeatedly ask for my iCloud password, and no matter how many times I put in my legit password, it would keep asking.

      When I gave up and would hit “cancel,” iCloud made me hit cancel two times.

      It was very annoying not to mention my Mac was not logged into iCloud.

      Reply

  15. FR says

    Hi! gretat information. But: “Next, Disconnect iCloud from Applications

    Open Facetime
    Go to Facetime>Preferences
    Select Settings
    Click Sign Out”

    What is FaceTime? I cannot locate this on my Mac.

    Reply

  20. grete says

    I was having similar issue with ElCapitane. After changing my AppleID password the iCloud kept asking for it constantly. This post helped me solve the issue.

    Reply

  22. Rich Kerhlikar says

    I’m having the same concerns that June White is having. If I sign out of iCloud on my Mac (Yosemite) it says I will loose everything between my Mac and iCloud. I really don’t want to loose all of this. There has to be a better way.

    Reply

  24. June White says

    On Yosemite, try to sign out and it says I will loose all my calendar info if I do, Can’t afford to do that so what else can I try? TIA

    Reply

  25. BettyAnnMailloux says

    I downloaded free sheild and didn’t like it so I deled it and now the VPN wouldn’t stay off what to do

    Reply