How to Resolve the Apple ID Sign-In Loop on macOS

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Verify Apple System Status

   Before altering local settings, ensure the Apple ID server is operational. Visit the official Apple System Status page to confirm that Apple ID and iCloud services show a green status indicator.

   Note: If services are red or yellow, wait for Apple to resolve the outage before proceeding.
2. 1 min

   Force Quit System Settings

   A hung background process often triggers the loop. Press Command + Option + Escape, select System Settings from the list, and click Force Quit to terminate the application immediately.

   Note: Cmd + Option + Esc
3. 2 min

   Clear iCloud Caches via Terminal

   Open Terminal and execute the following command to remove the account management cache: 'rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.AppleAccount'. Follow this by restarting your Mac to force the system to rebuild the cache file.

   Note: This command does not delete your data; it only clears the authentication cache.
4. 1 min

   Sign Out of iCloud

   Navigate to System Settings > [Your Name]. Scroll to the bottom and click Sign Out. If prompted to keep a copy of your iCloud data locally, select the option to keep the data so it syncs back once you sign in again.

5. 2 min

   Re-authenticate the Account

   Restart your Mac one final time. Open System Settings and click Sign in to your Apple ID. Enter your credentials and complete the two-factor authentication process when prompted to establish a fresh, stable connection.

   Note: Ensure your Date & Time settings are set to 'Set date and time automatically' to prevent handshake errors.