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nerdclio
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Unable to recover Apple Account without old phone number

Hi everyone,


I’m trying to recover an old iCloud/Apple Account that I used when I was around 7th grade in high school. I’m currently in 3rd year, so it has been a few years since I last used that account.


I still have access to the old email address associated with the account, but I completely forgot the phone number that was linked to it. Because of that, I’m unable to change/reset the password. When I try to recover the account, Apple asks me to confirm the old phone number.


I mainly want to get back into the account because I’d like to check if I still have old photos and memories from that iPhone stored in iCloud.


I know the Apple Account email, and I still have access to that email. I just no longer have the old phone number.


Is there any way to recover the account without knowing or having access to the old phone number? Any advice on what I can do would be greatly appreciated

Posted on Oct 2, 2026 2:45 AM

3 replies

Ingo2711
User level: Level 10 (93,009 points)

Oct 2, 2026 4:20 AM in response to nerdclio

Did you already try these steps?


...


If you permanently don’t have access to either your trusted devices or your trusted phone number, you can still attempt to recover access to your account.


  1. Try to sign in to your Apple Account.
  2. Select “Didn’t Get a Code?” or “Can’t get to your devices?” on the verification code screen.
  3. Choose “Can’t use [phone number]”.
  4. If you don’t have access to any trusted phone number on file with your Apple Account, you can initiate the process to recover access to your account. Follow the onscreen steps.


Account recovery might take a few days or longer, depending on the specific account information you can provide to verify your identity. Contacting Apple can’t help speed up the process.

...

copied from: Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support


The Account Recovery process is described here:

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support

nerdclio Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 2, 2026 4:31 AM in response to Ingo2711

Oh yes I tried that before but I can't see the "Didn't Get a Code?" or the "Can't get to your devices" It only pops up the __number like you need to identify what number you put on that account

Ingo2711
User level: Level 10 (93,009 points)

Oct 2, 2026 4:50 AM in response to nerdclio

If this does not work, the Account Recovery would be the next step.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256368960