The box appears. Enter your Apple ID password. You type it correctly. Twenty minutes later it appears again. This is one of the most common complaints I receive in Lagos.
Why It Happens
iCloud authentication has lapsed. Apple's authentication tokens expire periodically. Usually a one-time request. When it keeps happening, something prevents completion. A service cannot connect. Apple services running in the background may repeatedly request credentials if they cannot reach Apple's servers. Your Apple ID has been flagged. Apple occasionally flags accounts for a security review, during which more frequent requests are normal.
The Fixes — In Order
Sign out and sign back in. System Settings → [Your Name] → scroll to bottom → Sign Out. Wait thirty seconds. Sign back in. This refreshes all authentication tokens and resolves most cases.
Check appleid.apple.com. Look for security alerts or unrecognised devices.
Check your internet connection. A Mac on an unreliable connection will repeatedly fail to authenticate.
Update macOS. Authentication bugs are sometimes fixed in later updates.
Watch for phishing
Fake Apple ID prompts are a known attack. Legitimate prompts appear in System Settings or standard macOS dialogs — never in browsers or email clients. If unsure, close it and open System Settings directly.
Mac still asking for Apple ID every hour?
I can usually resolve this remotely in twenty minutes. Call or message and I will sort it while you have your coffee.
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