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Hi,
I've just purchased an iPad and couldn't remember my security questions for my AppleID account, therefor was unable to reset my security questions (I know right). I have found a solution to this and wanted to share it.
This will only apply to those that:
Had an old account and didn't enable 2-factor authentication
Did not have a recovery phone number setup
Are unable to reset security questions on the iForgot website or log into appleid.apple.com.
Contacted Apple support and didn't get anywhere
All you need to do is get a iPad / iPhone, do a factory reset on it then during the initial setup you select the option to restore from iCloud. At this point it will ask for a mobile number (Doesn't have to be an iPhone number) and it will enable 2-factor authentication. It told me that I didn't have any data in iCloud and returned me to the previous screen where I setup the device as new.
Note: I did this on an old iPhone, my iPad told me to enter a verification code that it sent to the iPhone, but for some reason I had to click 'did not get anything' and enter my phone number where it send my phone a text and I was able to authenticate it.
Finally... I was able to log into appleid.apple.com and view my account.
I hope this helps at lease one person, there were plenty of people online who had this issue:
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6obk1b/the_struggles_with_apple_id_security_questions/ (This post provides an alternate resolution that didn't for for me and is possibly 'patched' by Apple)
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6xz0hn/is_there_no_way_to_reset_your_apple_security/
https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6016dc/question_i_forgot_my_security_questions_answers/
https://www.reddit.com/r/applehelp/comments/1lqfia/forgot_appleid_security_questions/
TLDR: Select the 'Restore from iCloud' on the initial welcome screens.Edit: After logging into my AppleID account, I was unable to access the security questions - I assume this has been replaced with the 2FA option.
There is no way to reset your Apple ID security questions online after the Mat Honan hack and its aftermath.
I was able to reset my security questions by calling Apple Support on the phone, provided I could remember at least one out of three.
However if you can't remember any of the three, you might have trouble.
The reset procedure for security questions is here: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201485
- https://iforgot.apple.com/
It's one of the things you are recommended to do if you think your AppleID is compromised.
Below are more details and screen shots from a while back, but the links above have current information as well as discussion on how to get support in person and newer developments like Two Factor Authentication and using another trusted device.
If you know your password to your Apple ID and have set up a second email address, you can reset your security questions by logging into the web site https://appleid.apple.com even if you can't answer the security questions that normally are required to make changes to the existing security questions.
Once you have logged in, click 'Password and Security'. Then click/tap the link in the lower right that says Forgot your answers? Send reset security info email to m * * * *@monsters.edu
You will get an email with a link to reset not only the security questions and answers, but correct your birth date which can be used to verity your identity when you are calling Apple or trying to reset a password.
I have an Apple ID with a recovery email, so perhaps if you have not entered that second email, you might not be able to send the reset email and might need to contact Apple directly for help with your Apple ID. I know of people that have gotten things reset over the phone even after the Mat Honan incident where his account was compromised over the phone with Apple's assistance.
I have an old Apple ID account I don't actually use anymore but it's tied to my name and old email so I don't want to just ignore it. I got a bunch of emails tonight that my password, security questions, etc were changed. I opened a private window and logged in and was able to change the password since I have access to the email, but I can't proceed further with the log in because of the security questions. I used the iforgot site but to change security questions I have to be able to answer one of the current questions which are now all in Chinese. I don't know what security setting I had on this as I haven't used this as an appleID in at least a decade.
https://imgur.com/a/KhUzy0P
Do I have any options here to recover this?