Seeing “There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server”? How to solve

A message reading “There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server” pops up on your screen after keying in your sign-in details on your device. What happened? You start over, this time carefully typing in your details so you don’t miss anything. But, yet again, you receive the same message.

Before you smash your device in frustration, take a deep breath and try to relax because this is an especially common issue. The even better news? It’s fixable. At Asurion, we don’t just fix your broken tech gadget, we go the extra mile to find you solutions for issues like this Apple ID server error or how to update your iPhone to the newest iOS. So, read on to find out what this error means and how you can solve it. 

What does “There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server” mean?

Before you can grasp the connection to Apple ID server error, you must understand some basics. 

Every Apple device—iPhone®, iPad®, or Mac® computer—must be connected to an Apple account or ID to access its services like iMessages, iCloud, and App Store. This account consists of credentials—your username, email address, and a password—which are usually stored on the Apple ID server.

If your device can’t access this server, an error occurs. Therefore, the Apple ID server error simply means that there’s a problem with your device’s ability to communicate with Apple’s servers. This then causes further errors, like authenticating your sign-in attempts and connecting to services related to your Apple ID.

What causes an error connecting to the Apple ID server?

If you have a problem connecting to Apple ID server, there could be several reasons as to why. As such, understanding what the root cause could be can quickly help you solve the issue so you can access your account and the services you need. Here are some common causes:

• Internet connection issues: If you have weak or unstable internet, either Wi-Fi or cellular data, you may have trouble connecting to the Apple ID server. 
• Incorrect Apple ID or password: Yes, this could also be a culprit, despite you carefully typing in your password and ID. It could also be that you changed your password some time back and forgot.
• Outdated iOS software: If your device isn’t running on the latest iOS® or macOS® version, you will experience server connection errors. 
• Third-party app conflicts: Some applications installed on your device could be what’s interfering with the server connection because they block communication with the server. The common culprits include antivirus software, restrictive network firewalls, and third-party Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
• Incorrect date and time settings: If your date and time are wrong based on your region or zone, connection to Apple servers will fail. This is because your device’s time and date must match that of Apple servers. 
• Apple server outages: Apple will occasionally experience outages, especially if there is a planned maintenance on the servers. During this time, you may experience a connection error because the servers may be unavailable. 
• Overloaded servers: With over 1 billion active iPhone® users, there comes a time when Apple ID servers experience peak usage times, like during software releases. When this happens, your device may have a problem connecting to Apple ID servers, and consequently, getting an error message. 

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How to fix “There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server”

With the causes outlined in the previous section at the back of your head, you can now start troubleshooting the Apple ID server error. Here are several solutions you can try:

Restart your device

You can often solve many of your technical issues by simply doing a hard reset on the device. Apple is no different. 

For iPhone X and newer devices, simply hold down the Volume Up button and Side button simultaneously until you see the Slide to Power Off slider. Drag the slider to turn off the device. After a few minutes, turn on your iPhone again by pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

If you’re using an older iPhone than iPhone X—iPhone 8 and earlier—these usually have a Home button. To turn them off, you’ll only need to press and hold the Side button until the Slide to Power Off slider appears on the screen. 

On a Mac computer, simply click the Apple Menu, then Restart. Sometimes, your Mac may fail to respond to this request. In such a case, you can press and hold the Power button—usually located at the bottom center of your screen—until power goes off.

Log out and back into Apple ID

If, after restarting your device, you still receive the server ID error, you can try logging out and back in. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Launch Settings from your device and tap on your name next to your picture.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
3. Enter your password.
4. (Optional) Restart your Apple device.
5. Log back in through the Settings app.

Update iOS or macOS

Updates on your Apple devices improve server connection protocols. Therefore, if you haven’t updated your device’s software, this could cause the error you’re experiencing. Here’s how to go about it:

1. Tap on the Settings app on your device, then select General.
2. Tap on Software Update, and if the software isn’t up-to-date, you’ll see a recommendation to either Update Now or Update Tonight.
3. Toggle Automatic Updates to On to ensure future updates occur without needing manual intervention.

Check and correct date and time settings

If your device’s time and date are what’s causing the ID server error, you can easily change them to the correct settings:

1. Open your Settings app, then go to General.
2. Find Date & Time and tap on it.
3. Toggle the Set Automatically button to On if you haven’t already.

Reset network settings

If you can’t connect to Apple servers because of a poor connection, you might want to consider resetting your device’s network settings. This makes your iPhone or MacBook® forget any saved Wi-Fi networks and passwords, including VPN settings. To do this:

1. Go to Settings and tap General. 
2. Scroll to the bottom of your screen and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap on Reset Network Settings from the list that appears.
4. Enter your phone’s passcode to initiate the reset.