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Stuck in infinite Apple Account Recovery loop - 24h turns into 6 days and then restarts, for over a month. I have both trusted phone and email codes but iPad Air M4 is now a brick. Any advice?

I have forgotten the iCloud password for my daughter's profile... she only has one device (iPad Air M4)

Changing the password from my phone via parental controls doesn't work, it says to use her device.

When I receive and enter the verification codes to my phone number and her e-mail, Apple claims it needs 24h to verify the information, after 24h I don't receive any information but the status changes from 24h to 6 days.

I have tried everything, 100 calls to Apple support.

Following all instructions the verification and after 24h the 6-day period starts all over again, I've been trying to reset the password for more than a month.


Apple support on the phone tells me to follow the instructions and blatantly ignores the fact that when following them nothing happens, they talk like robots and ask to wait another 6 days.


Since when has a forgotten password on an Apple device become such a mystical problem even though I receive both security codes both to the number and to the e-mail!


Any suggestions? I don't want to throw the iPad in the trash but using it without iCloud is also impossible.

1 reply

Hi there

Please try this


  1. Power down the iPad completely. Do not leave it on a charger where it might boot up, and do not just lock the screen. It must remain 100% turned off. If it turns back on for any reason, the timer will reset
  2. Wait for the current phase to expire. Do not check the status constantly, as multiple duplicate requests can also stall the system. 
  3. Use a completely neutral web browser. On your phone or a computer (not signed into her account), go directly to iforgot.apple.com to check the status or re-initiate the request if it has completely reset. 
  4. Leave the iPad off. Keep the iPad completely powered down until you receive the final email, text, or call stating that the account is ready to be recovered.