Did you ever try to access iCloud’s stored data, but the Mac keeps showing the “Mac can’t connect to iCloud because of a problem with Apple ID (name)” error? Many users can get confused seeing this prompt as it is infrequent.
Nonetheless, a minor bug or an issue with Mac’s software can end up causing a connection error. There are many fixes to get rid of it, including updating the Mac or putting in the correct login credentials.
So, what can a user do if they can’t sign in to the iCloud application on their Mac? Head to the next section to find out.
What’s the “Mac can’t connect to iCloud because of a problem with Apple ID” prompt?
Users who enter an incorrect Apple ID or password can prompt the iCloud error. It means the Mac cannot connect to its iCloud account. Though rare, this issue can easily frustrate users.
iCloud is one of the essential parts of an Apple system, so errors in the service can paralyze the whole system. Luckily, fixing this issue is not challenging. A few easy fixes will get your iCloud account back and running.
Below are seven easy hacks to fixing the iCloud error.
1. Sign out and sign back in
At times glitches in the Apple ID system can cause the “Mac can’t connect to iCloud because of a problem with Apple ID” prompt. The easiest tip to counter this error if the issue is minor will be to log out and then sign back into your iCloud ID.
This fix will remove any minor glitches or bugs causing the Mac to not connect to iCloud. To sign out and sign in, follow these easy steps:
- Move the cursor to the Apple menu located in the upper left corner of the screen and click on system preferences
- Then click on the Apple ID tab
- From the list, select ‘overview’ and then click on ‘Sign out
- A pop-up message will appear asking you whether you want to ‘keep a copy of your data; click on ‘save a copy
- Then you’ll be asked to ‘download a copy of your data click on the appropriate box
- Once the sign-out process is completed, exit the system preferences
- To sign back in, launch the ‘System preferences menu and click on Apple ID
- Put in your login details and if prompted, put in the code sent to a trusted device
2. Check System Status
Apple Inc. provides users a facility to view the status of various services, including iCloud. For example, users can view whether their iCloud is running smoothly or experiencing glitches.
To use this facility, follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Open the ‘developer.apple.com/system-status‘ webpage using your Safari browser
- Look for the iCloud status on the system status page.
- If the button beside it is green, it means the iCloud services are running smoothly
- But, if the dot is red, it shows an error. Wait for a few moments, and then reconnect your Mac to iCloud
3. Restart your Mac
The easiest and most common bug fix is to restart or shut down your Mac. Doing this will remove any minor glitches or paused functions and give the laptop a boost. To restart your Mac, follow these steps:
- Go to the Apple menu and click on the ‘shut down button
- A message pop-up will appear, again click on ‘shutdown’ to switch off your Mac
- Once the Mac sleeps, please wait for a few moments and press the power button to turn it back on
- Go to your iCloud page to see if the issue fixes
4. Recheck your login credentials
If you enter the wrong email/ password for your iCloud, it can also cause the “Mac can’t connect to iCloud because of a problem with Apple ID” prompt. Especially if you use various Apple accounts, it’s essential to enter the correct details.
To recheck and correct your ID details, follow these steps:
- Open ‘System Preferences from the Apple menu bar
- Then select the ‘Apple ID’ tab, here you can view your Apple ID details
If you’ve forgotten or misplaced your login details, follow these steps:
- Click on The ‘Password & Security tab in the Apple ID section
- Then click on ‘Forgotten Apple ID or password, and you’ll be guided step by step to recover your passcode
- Once you retrieve your account, you can then log in to icloud.com to use your Apple ID
5. Remove the cache
Cache slows down Macs and takes up extra space too. Removing the cache can help boost your laptop’s functionality and speed. To remove cache files from your Mac, follow these steps:
- Before deleting the cache, back up your Mac to secure the data. Use the time machine app to store data
- Open the finder application from the dock
- Then go to the Apple menu and click on the ‘Go’ button
- From the drop-down menu, select the ‘Go to folder’ option
- In the popup box put in the ~/Library/Application Support/iCloud/Accounts/ command
- Please create a new folder on the desktop and drag all the files to it
- Sign back into your iCloud and see if the problem fixes
6. Remove the keychain access passwords.
Keychain access app is a macOS application that stores passwords and lets the user use various devices simultaneously. It also holds passcode details along with passwords.
Issues with the keychain access app can sometimes cause the “Mac can’t connect to iCloud because of a problem with Apple ID” error. To remove all the passwords saved in the Keychain Access app, follow these steps:
- Before starting, jot down the essential passwords in a notepad to prevent data loss
- Open the Keychain Access app using the Finder application
- In the Apple menu bar, select ‘File’
- Then click on the ‘Delete Keychain (name of the keychain)’
- Lastly, click ‘delete references’
7. Set Mac’s date and time setting to ‘Automatic’
The last fix, if nothing else works, try resetting the Mac’s time and date settings to get rid of hidden bugs. To do that, follow these steps:
- Move the cursor to the Apple menu bar and tap on the Apple logo
- From the drop-down menu, click on System Preferences
- Then click ‘Date & Time’
- Click on the lock at the bottom left of the screen to make changes
- Put in your Apple ID and password
- Lastly, tick the checkmark next to ‘Set date & time automatically
Conclusion
The iCloud error doesn’t require a rigorous solution, nor do users need additional time and effort to fix it. If the abovementioned steps don’t solve the issue, try rebooting your Mac.
If iCloud works in safe mode, it means that a third-party extension is likely causing the error. If nothing else works, contact Apple support to fix the problem.
