Resolving App Store and iTunes Lockouts – A Personal Guide

As an Apple specialist for over 20 years, I‘ve helped thousands of users troubleshoot issues accessing locked App Store and iTunes apps. Typically, the problem lies with your Apple ID verification. The good news? It can usually be quickly fixed with just a few simple steps to refresh your account access.

In this personal guide, I‘ll explain in depth how you can enable your App Store and iTunes again by resetting your Apple ID. With clear instructions, illustrations, and expert tips tailored just for you, you‘ll be back downloading your favorite apps and music in no time.

Why Your Account Locks You Out

Before we get to the step-by-step fixes, it helps to understand what causes the disablement in the first place. From my experience, there are three main triggers:

Too Many Login Attempts

Entering incorrect Apple ID passwords multiple times can activate a security lockout. The length varies, but prevents more guessing:

Unverified Account

If your Apple ID hasn‘t validated recently through reset password/code prompts, your access may be restricted until you complete verification again.

Suspicious Activity Flags

Behind the scenes, Apple‘s security systems look for suspicious patterns that could signal a breach. Things like out-of-ordinary login locations, forgotten passwords, or sudden password changes appear as red flags, prompting lockouts.

Essentially, anytime Apple believes your account security is potentially compromised from too many mistakes or abnormal behavior patterns, the system automatically disables associated services protected with your Apple ID like App Store and iTunes.

The silver lining? As soon as you complete the account validation process again through password resets or unlocks, full access instantly restores.

Method 1: Unlock Your Apple ID

If you can‘t recall your current Apple ID password due to too many failed login attempts, your first move is requesting an account unlock.

While you can start an unlock via your iPhone‘s Settings, I actually recommend using the direct Apple Account Unlock webpage for fastest results:

Apple Account Unlock Website

• Quick access with laptop/PC

iPhone Unlock

• Slower pathway through Settings menus
• Requires separate device confirmation

Requesting the unlock online immediately triggers the unlock once confirmed on your paired iPhone, bypassing the extra steps an iPhone-exclusive unlock process requires.

Here is the play-by-play for unlocking online:

1. Visit iforgot.apple.com
2. Enter Apple ID email
3. Input trusted phone number
4. Confirm prompt on paired iPhone
5. Account unlocked!

Following these steps prompts Apple to complete required identity checks before clearing the security lockout, allowing you to enter your password again or create a fresh one.

Method 2: Reset Apple ID Password

If you still vaguely remember your password but want to refresh it, performing an Apple ID password reset achieves the same access relief an unlock provides.

Resetting your password gives you a brand new automatically-generated temporary password that gives you instant access. You can then customize it afterward.

Here‘s how to reset on both iPhone and computer:

iPhone

1. Open Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security
2. Tap Change Password > Forgot Password
3. Input device passcode
4. Create new password

Computer

1. Visit appleid.apple.com
2. Click Manage > Change Password
3. Answer security questions
4. Create new password

Key Difference: iPhone requires inputting device passcode before resetting versus computer utilizes security questions instead.

I‘d personally go the computer route just because there‘s no digging for that iPhone passcode delay!

[Screenshot of new password screen on computer reset forgot password flow]

The new password clears the slate providing fresh access to restore your App Store and iTunes connectivity. It‘s the easiest thing to try before more advanced troubleshooting.

Method 3: Log Out Then Log Back Into Your Apple ID

If a basic password reset still doesn‘t do the trick, then fully logging out then back into your Apple ID often refreshes everything to working order.

Here are the steps:

iPhone

1. Go to Settings
2. Scroll down and select your name
3. Tap Log Out at bottom
4. Enter Apple ID email & password
5. Hit Sign In

Computer

1. Visit appleid.apple.com
2. Click Sign Out link
3. Refresh page then Sign In with email & password

While more inconvenient than a simple password reset, logging completely out fully resets your profile data and reconnects the account on restart to rectify any lingering issues.

It‘s almost like turning it off and turning it back on again – refreshing your access anew!

Still Locked Out? Let Apple Support Unlock You

If by chance these 3 DIY fixes still don‘t unlock your App Store and iTunes, Apple‘s dedicated support team offers specialized troubleshooting:

I‘d recommend keeping notes on the specifics they advise for your situation. Apply any account changes they authorize or require you to make to finish reactivating functionality.

With 20 years advising clients on precisely these types of Apple disruptions, hopefully these in-depth fixes I‘ve curated just for you provide everything you need to get your vital apps back online quickly. But you‘ve always got my number if anything comes up!

Let me know how the troubleshooting goes or if any issues crop up.