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Verification Failed, followed by There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server, appears when your iPhone, iPad or Mac tries to sign in to Apple and can't complete the conversation with Apple's sign-in servers. Apple renamed Apple ID to Apple Account in 2024, so recent versions of iOS and macOS name the Apple Account server instead. It is the same error.
Despite the wording, it rarely means your password is wrong. It means the check never finished. The cause is nearly always the connection, the device's clock, a VPN, or a fault at Apple.
Is it Apple?
Apple lists this as the first thing to check. Open Apple's System Status page and look for any issue against Apple Account or the iCloud services. Our iCloud status page shows whether other people are reporting sign-in problems right now. If Apple has a fault, nothing on your device will help. Wait, and don't change your password in the meantime.
Fixes, most likely first
- Switch connection. Move from Wi-Fi to mobile data or the other way round, then try again. Public, hotel and work Wi-Fi often block or intercept the secure connection Apple needs.
- Turn off your VPN. Go to Settings, General, VPN & Device Management and disconnect it. Do the same for any security or ad-blocking app that filters traffic.
- Set the date and time automatically. On iPhone or iPad: Settings, General, Date & Time, turn on Set Automatically. On a Mac: System Settings, General, Date & Time. A wrong clock makes Apple's security certificates look invalid.
- Restart the device, then restart your router.
- Update the software. Apple's own advice for iCloud sign-in problems is to install the latest iOS, iPadOS or macOS your device supports.
- Check mobile data is on. If you're away from Wi-Fi, open Settings, Mobile Data (Cellular in some regions) and make sure it is switched on.
- Reset network settings as a last resort: Settings, General, Transfer or Reset iPhone, Reset, Reset Network Settings. This removes saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN profiles, so have your Wi-Fi password ready.
If the verification code is the problem
With two-factor authentication, the sign-in also needs a six-digit code. Apple shows it automatically on your trusted devices, the ones already signed in to your account. If nothing appears, choose Didn't Get a Code? on the code screen and ask for a text message or phone call to your trusted number instead.
If a code is rejected, request a new one and enter it straight away. Check the date and time are set automatically on both devices first.
iCloud connection errors
The same causes sit behind two iCloud messages. On iCloud.com and iCloud for Windows you may see Connection Error: iCloud encountered an error while trying to connect to the server. On iPhone, iCloud settings can show Could not communicate with the server.
On a computer, try a different browser, turn off content blockers for icloud.com and check the PC's date and time. On iPhone, work through the list above. Apple also notes that too many wrong password or security answers lock the account, which stops iCloud connecting until you unlock it.
Why the clock and the network matter so much
Signing in to Apple happens over an encrypted connection that both sides must be able to verify. Your device checks Apple's security certificate, and certificates are only valid between two dates. If your clock is months out, a perfectly good certificate looks expired or not yet valid, and the device refuses to continue. This is common after a battery has been completely flat or a device has sat in a drawer for a long time.
Networks cause the same failure in a different way. School, office and hotel Wi-Fi may inspect or redirect secure traffic, and a Wi-Fi sign-in page you haven't completed yet will intercept everything. Apple's servers then appear unreachable, even though web pages may seem to load.
After an update, restore or new device
The error often shows up during setup, when a device signs in to several Apple services at once. If you've just restored from an iCloud backup, Apple's advice is to stay on reliable Wi-Fi and keep the device on power until the restore finishes. Repeated password prompts during that time are expected and usually stop by themselves.
Older iPhones, iPads and Macs
Devices that can't run current software are the hardest cases. Apple says automatic verification codes need a device that meets its minimum system requirements, and its first advice for iCloud sign-in trouble is to install the latest software the device supports. A very old device that can't be updated may no longer be able to make the kind of secure connection Apple's servers require. Check the iCloud system requirements on Apple's support site before spending more time on it.
What not to do
- Don't keep retyping your password. Enough failed attempts lock the account, and unlocking it takes longer than waiting.
- Don't sign out of iCloud to "refresh" it while sign-in is failing. You may not be able to sign back in, and data that syncs through iCloud leaves the device until you do.
- Don't respond to calls, texts or pop-ups claiming your Apple Account has failed verification. Apple doesn't ask for your password or verification codes that way. Go to Settings yourself, or to Apple's website by typing the address.
Related fix guides
Questions
Why does my iPhone say there was an error connecting to the Apple ID server?
The phone could not complete a secure connection to Apple's sign-in servers. The usual causes are a weak or filtered network, a VPN, a wrong date and time, or a problem at Apple. Your password is rarely the issue.
Does "Verification Failed" mean my Apple Account is locked?
No. A locked account shows a different message saying it is locked or disabled for security reasons. Verification Failed means the sign-in attempt never reached a decision.
Will resetting network settings delete my data?
No. It removes saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, VPN settings and mobile network preferences. Photos, apps, messages and accounts stay where they are.