Apple ID Grayed Out on iPhone? 4 Ways to Get It Back

Penny Warren Published on July 25, 2025Unlock iOS3-min reading

Have you ever encountered a situation where you open the iPhone settings and want to modify your Apple ID information but find that the related options are grayed out and unresponsive, no matter how much you tap? Many users' first reaction is 'the phone is malfunctioning' or 'is it locked?', and some even choose to reset the phone, but the problem persists. This issue of the Apple ID being grayed out and unoperable is actually not uncommon and often occurs in several scenarios, such as when Screen Time is enabled, device restrictions are in place, or network issues arise. The key is that you need to identify why is my Apple ID grayed out to effectively address the problem. Don't worry. This article will guide you step by step in investigating the causes and provide various effective solutions to help you quickly restore normal use of your Apple ID.

Part 1. Why Is My Apple ID Grayed Out

If you find that your Apple ID is unclickable or grayed out, don't worry; this is usually a restriction triggered by the system to protect account security. This issue may manifest slightly differently across different devices and system versions, but it essentially falls under the phenomenon of the Apple ID being grayed out.

So why is my Apple ID grayed out? Common reasons include the following:

Screen Time restrictions: If the 'Screen Time' feature is enabled, especially after setting content and privacy access restrictions, the system will limit the account's change permissions, which is a major reason many users search for why their Apple ID is greyed out in settings.

Device management restrictions (MDM): If your iPhone is a company device or has been managed remotely, a configuration profile or mobile device management system may be in place, which will forcibly disable the Apple ID settings unless you remove MDM on iPhone.

Network issues: Features related to Apple ID rely on a stable network connection. If there are DNS issues or access restrictions on the current network, it may cause the Apple ID option to be grayed out.

System errors or cache conflicts: Sometimes, it could simply be a minor system bug that misleadingly makes you think your account is in trouble.

If you're frustrated by "how to fix my Apple ID being grayed out," keep reading. We will detail several practical solutions to troubleshoot and restore Apple ID functionality.

Part 2. How to Fix Apple ID Grayed Out

When the Apple ID is grayed out, there is no need to rush to reset the device or contact customer service. Often, this is just a temporary restriction caused by some system settings. Below are several common and effective solutions that you can try one by one to find the option that works for you.

Input Screen Time password

If you have enabled the Screen Time feature, your Apple ID may be grayed out due to restricted permissions. You can follow these steps to remove the restriction:

Restart iPhone

Sometimes the issue of Apple ID being grayed out is not a permission problem, but rather a temporary system bug or a cache conflict. You just need to restart the device simply:

Although this step is simple, it is very effective, especially for users who encounter the grayed-out Apple ID issue for the first time after a system upgrade.

Check the network settings

Apple ID setup requires a network connection. If your current Wi-Fi or cellular data connection is unstable, it may also cause the Apple ID to fail to load and appear grayed out:

When you don't know why your Apple ID is grayed out, these three troubleshooting steps can help you quickly identify the issue. If the above methods still do not resolve the problem, or if you have forgotten your Screen Time passcode and cannot unlock your Apple ID, the next section will introduce you to a one-click solution.

Part 3. Remove Apple ID from iPhone to Fix Apple ID Grayed Out

If you've tried all the usual methods and the issue with your Apple ID grayed out still doesn't work, you may need to take it a step further, which is to remove the Apple ID directly from your device. This is especially useful for users who have forgotten their Screen Time passcode. At this point, you can safely and efficiently remove your Apple ID and resume normal use with the help of a professional iOS unlocking tool such as imyPass iPassGo.

This way, even if you don't know why my Apple ID is grayed out in Settings, you can easily skip complicated troubleshooting and fix it with one click.

Conclusion

Different users encounter different reasons for the problem of Apple ID grayed out, and this article provides a variety of methods to help you quickly identify and solve it. If you've tried the usual steps and still don't work, you can also use a professional tool like imyPass iPassGo to remove your old Apple ID from the root cause and completely fix any other issues.