How to Reset Your Apple ID Password

If you’re an Apple user, you’ve probably needed your Apple ID hundreds of times. You may have used it to access your iCloud, purchase an app on the App Store, or update your operating system. Still, this doesn’t mean you can’t forget your Apple ID password.

Luckily, Apple is well aware of this, so the company made it possible to reset your Apple ID password in several ways. Keep reading to learn what to do if you have forgotten your Apple ID password or your account has been compromised.

Forgot Apple ID Password? Here’s What to Do

Resetting your Apple ID password will be the most straightforward if you still have any of your trusted Apple devices. If not, don’t worry; you can reset the password on a borrowed device or the web. Let’s see how each method works in more detail.

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password Using a Trusted Apple Device

If you have access to a trusted device, you can reset your Apple ID and regain access to your account in a few quick steps.

Using a Trusted iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, or Apple Watch

Resetting your Apple ID on an iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, or Apple Watch requires following the same steps. Here’s what to do:

1. Navigate to the Settings app.
2. Press your name.
3. Go to “Password & Security.”
4. Tap “Change Password.”

From there, follow the onscreen instructions to finalize changing your Apple ID password.

Using a Trusted Mac Computer

You can also use a trusted Mac device to reset your password. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to the apple icon at top left to launch the Apple menu.
2. Select “System Preferences.”
3. Click “Apple ID.”
4. Click “Password & Security.”
5. Go to “Change Password.”
6. Follow the onscreen prompts to change your Apple ID password.

The steps above will work if your macOS version is Catalina or later. Suppose you have one of the older operating systems. In that case, the process of resetting your Apple ID password will be slightly different:

1. Launch the Apple menu.
2. Go to “System Preferences.”
3. Select “iCloud.”
4. Click on “Account Details.”
5. Select “Forgot Apple ID or password.”
6. Follow the onscreen instructions.

If you’re not prompted to enter your Apple ID password after step 4, go to the “Change Password” option. Before resetting your Apple ID password, you’ll need to enter the password you use to unlock your Mac.

Using a Web Browser

You can also reset your Apple ID password using a web browser. The exact steps will depend on the level of password security on your device.

If you don’t have two-factor authentication enabled, follow these steps to reset your Apple ID password:

1. Visit the Apple ID account page.
2. Press the Sign In button.
3. Select “Forgot Apple ID or password.”
4. Enter your Apple ID.

Now you can choose between two options, depending on whether you’ve set up security questions. If you have, select the “Answer security questions” option and follow the onscreen prompts. If not, click the “Get an email” option to receive the password-resetting link via email.

If you see the “Recovery Key” option, it means your two-step verification is turned on. In that case, prepare any of your trusted Apple devices that you’ve previously signed in to using two-factor authentication. Then, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Apple ID account page.
2. Choose “Forgot Apple ID or password.”
3. Enter your Apple ID.
4. Type in your Recovery Key.
5. Select a trusted device to receive a verification code.
6. Enter the verification code.
7. Create a new password.
8. Click on the “Reset Password” button.

As you can see, a Recovery Key can be a lifesaver if you forget your Apple ID password. So, make sure to generate this key and store it securely. We recommend using one of the best password managers to ensure you always have access to this key.

To generate a new Recovery Key, do the following:

1. Visit the Apple ID account page.
2. Sign in using your Apple ID and password.
3. Navigate to the “Security” section.
4. Click “Edit.”
5. Go to “Replace Lost Key.”

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password Using a New Apple Device

If you’ve recently purchased a new Apple device, you’ll be required to sign in to your Apple ID account during the device setup. If you forgot Apple ID password, don’t worry. You can still reset it even though the new device hasn’t used your Apple ID.

The key is to select “Forgot Apple ID or password” wherever this option appears. You should see this option on the Apple ID sign-in screen when setting up the device. If you don’t see the screen, you can do the following:

• Select the “Messages” option under “Settings” on an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Apple Watch
• Go to the “Sign in with your Apple ID” option under “System Preferences” on a Mac

After you’ve located the option, follow the onscreen prompts to change your Apple ID password and start using your new device freely.

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password Using the Apple Support App on a Borrowed Device

If you currently don’t own any trusted devices, you’ll have to borrow an Apple device from a friend or a family member. Alternatively, you can head to the nearest Apple store and help yourself to one of the in-store devices.

Regardless of your choice, follow these steps to reset your Apple ID password:

1. Download the Apple Support app from the Apple Store.
2. After launching the app, scroll down to “Support Tools.”
3. Tap “Reset Password.”
4. Select the “Reset Apple ID password” option.
5. Tap the “A different Apple ID” option.
6. Enter your Apple ID.
7. Press “Next.”

From there, follow the onscreen instructions until you get a confirmation that your Apple ID password has been changed. If you worry about the privacy risk of using someone else’s Apple device, you should know that the information you’ve entered in the Apple Support app won’t be stored on the device. Still, remember to log out once you’re done.

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password on the Web

If you haven’t been able to reset your Apple ID password using any of the above methods, you can complete this process on the web.

However, this option should be your last resort since it takes significantly longer than other password-resetting methods. In fact, the process itself will redirect you to a trusted device. But if the web is your only option, go to the Recover Your Apple ID website and follow the onscreen instructions to reset your Apple ID password.

It may take a few days to get a new password. During the waiting period, you’ll be able to check the status of your new password by logging in to the same website. The status should contain the date when you can access your account again.

Once you receive a new password, you should immediately use it on all your other devices, too. Waiting to do so might cause you to forget the password again and get sucked back into this time-consuming process.

Don’t Wait ‘Till It’s Too Late

Getting hacked or forgetting your Apple ID password means you won’t be able to access Apple services, making your device almost useless. This article has outlined methods to reset your Apple ID password and gain access to your account again. However, you shouldn’t wait for the worst-case scenario to happen.

Instead, you should take a proactive approach and set up as many additional security settings as possible. This means enabling two-factor authentication, assigning a recovery contact, and storing your passwords in a password manager.