How to reset your Apple ID password: 6 easy ways

Here's how to reset your Apple ID password. Apple offers several ways to reset your Apple ID or iCloud password. Which method you use depends on how your account is set up.

1. Reset Apple ID password on iPhone or iPad

Make sure your device has iOS 10 or later. Then open the Settings app. Tap [your name] > Password & Security, then tap Change Password.

Next, enter the passcode you use to unlock your device.

On the Change Password screen that appears, enter your new password in both fields and tap Change. You can now enter this new Apple ID password on all of your other devices.

2. Reset Apple ID password on Mac

In macOS Catalina or later, go to Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Apple ID.

In earlier versions of macOS, go to System Preferences > iCloud, click Account Details, then click Security

Click Password & Security, and then click Change Password.

You may be prompted to enter a password for the administrative account, and then click OK.

In the dialog box that appears, enter your new password and re-enter it in the Verify field. Then, click Change. Your other devices will ask you to enter your new password the next time you use them.

3. Reset your Apple ID password on the iForgot website

Go to Apple's iForgot website. Enter your Apple ID and click Continue.

Apple displays the phone numbers associated with your Apple ID (these numbers are hidden, with only the last two digits showing). Enter the phone number you use for your Apple ID, then click Continue.

As with 2FA login, a dialog box will appear on your trusted devices, and Apple will display a list of them on the website. Click or tap Allow in the Reset Password message.

Enter your device passcode or macOS administrator password, then click Continue.

Enter your new password, re-enter it in the Verify field, and then click Next or click Change. You may need to re-enter it in multiple places.

4. Reset your Apple ID password using the Apple Support app

If you don't have access to either device, you can reset your Apple ID password on a friend or family member's iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using the Apple Support app or the Find My iPhone app.

Ask the device owner to download the Apple Support app. Under Topics, tap Password & Security Lock. Tap Reset Apple ID Password. Tap Get Started, then tap Other Apple ID.

Enter the Apple ID for which you need to reset the password, then tap Next and follow the on-screen steps until you receive a confirmation message.

If the device uses iOS 9 to iOS 12 and they cannot download Apple-supported apps, use the Find My iPhone app instead.

If using two-step verification

Before 2FA, Apple offered two-step verification. With this, Apple would use the Find My iPhone system in iOS and send a short numeric code to other devices via text message. Macs cannot receive these codes.

The system also relies on 14-character recovery codes. If you are locked out of your account and lose your recovery code, you may never regain access to your account.

If your device is running software earlier than iOS 9 or OS X El Capitan, you can use two-step verification.

When devices are updated to higher versions of software, their security settings are automatically updated to 2FA.

5. Reset Apple ID password with two-step verification enabled

To reset an Apple ID protected by two-step verification, you will need your recovery key and a trusted device or phone number. Follow these steps:

• Visit Apple's iForgot website.
• Enter your Apple ID and click Continue.
• Select the option to reset your password and click Continue again.
• Enter your recovery code and select Continue.
• Select Trusted devices.
• Enter the confirmation code.
• Choose a new password and click Reset Password.
• As indicated in Apple's support document on resetting a two-step password, you need at least two of these three items to successfully log in. One is your Apple ID password, the second is a trusted device, and the third is your Recovery Key.
• If you lose any two of these, you may no longer be able to access your account. Unfortunately, you have no choice but to create a new Apple ID.
• How to reset a password-only Apple ID account
• Forgot your Apple ID password and don't use two-step or three-step 2FA on your account? You can still reset your password using Apple's iForgot website.

6. Reset Apple ID using iForgot website

Visit the iForgot website and enter your Apple ID username. Then follow the simple prompts to reset your password. Without any of these extra security measures, you can reset your password via email or security questions if you still have them set up.