I need some advice on recovering my Apple ID after a break-in. A bag with my MacBook and iPad was stolen from my car, and it seems the thief got into my Apple ID. They removed everything, including the trusted phone number and devices linked to my account. Is there any way to recover iCloud data or backups without access to a trusted device or phone number? Apple Support has been no help, suggesting I just create a new Apple ID instead. It feels crazy that I can't proceed with account recovery because I don't know the thief's number. The guidance I've seen states I should have the option to say I lost access to that number and provide proof like receipts or my ID, but that never comes up. Have I just lost a decade's worth of data? Looking for any insights or confirmation that I'm out of luck.
1 Answer
It sounds really frustrating, but unfortunately, if you don’t have a trusted device or know the phone number, you're likely out of luck when it comes to regaining access. Apple has pretty strict security protocols in place to prevent unauthorized access, and without those pieces of info, it’s tough to get back in. Sorry to say, but it seems like you might have to start from scratch.
That just seems so unnecessary, right? I mean, shouldn't there be a way for Apple to verify your identity through other means? Like receipts or previous purchases?