I made a mistake by using my personal Apple ID on a work Mac, and now that I've left that job, my former employer has taken control of my account. They changed my Apple ID password, email, and phone number after I returned the laptop, and now I can't access any of my devices. I've reached out to Apple Support, but they can't help me because I have no way of verifying my identity on that account anymore. I can't contact my old employer due to complications on how I left the job, and frankly, I'm worried about potential legal issues. I'm considering just creating a new Apple ID and wiping my devices, but is there anything else I could do to recover my account? Is there a way I can protect my current accounts in the meantime?
5 Answers
Keep in mind that since they changed your Apple ID details, they might have done it without your consent, which could be identity theft. That alone is a serious issue, and you might want to mention that to a legal professional, even if you don't want to escalate anything for now. It's crucial to protect your accounts from any misuse.
You might want to try the Apple support link provided [here](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118574), but be aware it might not work if the account was deleted. Just keep all your receipts handy in case you need to prove ownership for your devices later!
You might want to consider having a lawyer draft a letter to your former employer requesting they restore your Apple ID. They might be more willing to cooperate if there's a formal request instead of just reaching out personally. Even if it seems a bit daunting, a letter from a lawyer could help push things along without making threats of legal action—just the fact that you hired a lawyer can sometimes get their attention.
That sounds risky, especially since you mentioned the departure was messy. Maybe there’s a way to ask for help without involving legal stuff? It might just complicate things more.
Have you checked if any of your personal devices are still logged in to your original Apple ID? That could be a starting point. And definitely update your Apple Card information to ensure no unauthorized charges happen. Given how shady your former employer sounds, consider consulting with a legal expert about possible identity theft claims—it's definitely worth exploring!
Yes, my devices still show as logged in, but I can't access anything. I keep getting log-in prompts that don't work. I’ll look into updating my Apple Card info—thanks!
Recovering might not be as straightforward as it seems. If you had 'Find My' enabled, wiping your devices could lock them permanently if they're still linked to the old Apple ID. You might want to see if you can get proof of purchase for those devices; Apple can sometimes help if you can prove ownership!
I hope I can get them to assist! The last thing I want is to lose access to all my stuff. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for sharing the link! I'll give it a try, but I'm worried I might not have any luck if they’ve deleted the account.