Last Updated on June 24, 2022 by srinivas
For reasons known only to Apple, from time to time or even frequently, you may see a message that reads:
Update Apple ID settings. Some account services require you to sign in again.
Macworld Editor Karen Haslam provides comprehensive troubleshooting for this issue, with an update in January 2022 due to a flood of people who saw the message during a disruption of Apple’s iCloud servers.
In addition to solving the problem that Apple identifies, readers are wondering if the message is legit, as it looks exactly like the kind of phishing message they’ve been warned about for many years. The prompt often appears during another activity and displays a message asking you to enter your password!
It’s intentional on Apple’s part, but rest assured that what you’re seeing is a message from Apple with a few tests:
- On iOS/iPadOS, do you see it in an app other than Safari or Mail (or any other browser or email app)? Since HTML can be used to mimic the general appearance of an iOS/iPadOS dialog box, I’d be skeptical.
- Do you see it in macOS outside the notification area? When you hide and show notifications, does it reappear?
For the highest confirmation level, open Settings † your name † iCloud in iOS/iPadOS or System Preferences † Apple ID or click on iCloud in macOS 10.15 Catalina or later. (Go to Mojave in 10.14 or earlier System Preferences † iCloud†
You should see a line item with similar text, such as “Updating Apple ID Settings” or a pop-up message in one of those locations. If so, re-enter your Apple ID password.
This Mac 911 article answers a question from Macworld reader Nathan.
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