Apple ID stuck on Verifying? 8 ways to finish signing in

Why is my Apple ID stuck on verifying?

When you sign in, your iPhone sends your password to Apple, waits for a reply, and often asks for a six-digit code from another device. The spinning Verifying screen means one of those steps did not finish. The usual causes are a weak or filtered internet connection, a wrong date or time on the iPhone, a VPN or security app blocking Apple's servers, an outage on Apple's side, or a two-factor code that never arrived. Apple renamed Apple ID to Apple Account in 2024, so newer iPhones say Apple Account, but the problem and the fixes are the same.

Where the problem shows up

• During setup of a new iPhone: often a busy network or a code sent to an old phone.
• Signing in to iCloud in Settings: usually the connection or date and time.
• App Store or Apple Music: see App Store sign-in and verification issues for payment-related prompts.
• After a password change: other devices need the new password before they will verify.
• After an iOS update: the update can stick on its own Verifying screen, a separate problem covered in iPhone stuck on Verifying Update.

Check Apple's System Status

Open apple.com/support/systemstatus on any device. Look at Apple Account, iCloud Account & Sign In and App Store. A yellow or red dot means Apple knows about a problem. Wait and try again later. Nothing on your side will fix an outage, and repeated attempts can lock the account for a while.

Fix the network

Verification needs a stable connection more than a fast one. Public Wi-Fi in hotels, schools and offices often blocks the servers Apple uses. Switch to cellular data, or the reverse. At home, restart the router. On Wi-Fi, open Settings › Wi-Fi, tap the info button and turn off Private Wi-Fi Address and Limit IP Address Tracking while you test. If you use a VPN, content filter or ad blocker, turn it off in Settings › General › VPN & Device Management.

Set the date and time correctly

Apple's servers reject sign-ins from devices whose clock is far off. Open Settings › General › Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. If the switch is gray, Screen Time may be locking it; enter the Screen Time passcode or ask the parent. Then try signing in again.

How to force restart your iPhone

A force restart clears a stuck process without touching your data. On iPhone 8 and later, press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. On iPhone 7, hold Volume Down and the side button together. Try signing in again once the iPhone has fully started and connected.

Verification code not arriving

Apple sends the code first to your other signed-in Apple devices: another iPhone, iPad or Mac. Check them. If none is nearby, tap Didn't Get a Verification Code and choose Text Message or Phone Call to your trusted number. If you changed numbers and the old one is still the trusted number, you will need another trusted device, or account recovery. A code from Settings on another device works too: Settings › your name › Sign-In & Security › Two-Factor Authentication › Get Verification Code.

Test your account on the web

Go to account.apple.com in a browser and sign in. If the website accepts your password, the account is fine and the problem is on the iPhone. If the website refuses it or says the account is locked, reset the password there, or see Apple Account locked. After a reset, sign out and back in on your other devices so they stop asking.

Still stuck during setup?

Tap Back, then choose to set up without an Apple Account for now. Finish setup, connect to a reliable network and sign in from Settings › Sign in to your iPhone. If you are moving to a new iPhone, our guide to setting up a new iPhone covers the transfer options.

Account recovery and Apple Support

If you cannot get any code and have no trusted device, start account recovery at iforgot.apple.com. Apple waits a set time, sometimes several days, before restoring access. This delay protects you from thieves. Do not pay services that promise to bypass it. If something seems wrong, Apple Support can check your account status by chat or by calling 1-800-275-2273 in the US.

Keep it from happening again

• Keep your trusted phone number current in Sign-In & Security.
• Add a second trusted number, such as a family member's.
• Set up a Recovery Contact so a friend can help you get back in.
• Keep iOS updated on all devices.
• Learn more in our two-factor authentication guide.

Is the Verifying screen ever a scam?

The real screen only appears inside Settings or during setup. If a website, text or pop-up asks you to verify your Apple Account and enter your password or code, it is fake. Apple never asks for your verification code by phone or text. Learn the signs in how to spot scam texts.

Apple ID stuck on verifying on iPad or Mac

The same fixes apply. On iPad, the path is the same as iPhone. On a Mac, open System Settings › Sign in and check General › Date & Time for automatic time. Macs on work networks often run firewalls or security software that block Apple's sign-in servers. Try a phone hotspot to rule that out. If a code is needed, it goes to your iPhone or other trusted devices.

Verifying hangs on a used or second-hand iPhone

If you bought a used iPhone and setup stalls at Activation Lock or verification for the previous owner's account, no network fix will help. The previous owner must remove the iPhone from their account at icloud.com/find or in their Find My app. Never buy a phone that is still locked to someone else. Our guide to buying a used phone safely explains what to check before you pay.

Too many attempts

Repeated failed sign-ins can lock the account for security. If you see a message that the account is locked or disabled, stop trying for a while. Retrying again and again only extends the lock. Go to iforgot.apple.com later and follow the unlock steps with your trusted number or email.

Work and school accounts

Managed Apple Accounts from a school or company follow the rules their administrator sets. If verification fails only for that account, contact the IT team. They may need to reset your password or allow the device. Personal accounts on the same iPhone are not affected.

What to try, in short

1. Check Apple's status page.
2. Change networks and turn off VPN.
3. Set date and time automatically.
4. Force restart, then try again.
5. Get the code by text or from another device.
6. Test at account.apple.com and reset the password if needed.

Most people get past the Verifying screen with the first three fixes. If you get stuck at the code step, the trusted number and account recovery are the way through.

If none of these steps work after a day, Apple Support can check your account from their side.