Reset Apple ID Password: Official Steps for iPhone, Mac & Online

If you’ve ever been locked out of your Apple account, you know that sinking feeling — you need an app, a purchase, or just access to your files, and the password simply won’t come. Apple built the account recovery process with security in mind, but that means the official path has a few branches depending on what device you have handy and whether you still control a trusted phone number. This guide walks through every official method, from the fastest option on a trusted iPhone to the longer account recovery route if you’ve lost everything.

Official reset site: account.apple.com · Primary support page: support.apple.com/en-ie/101567 · Device methods covered: iPhone, Mac, PC · Forgot password guide: support.apple.com/en-ie/102656

These key facts about Apple ID password reset options come from verified Apple documentation and support channels.

How do I reset my Apple ID password if I forget it?

The easiest path requires a trusted device — an iPhone, iPad, or Mac already signed in to your Apple account with a passcode set up. This method skips the waiting game entirely and gets you back in within minutes.

On iPhone

Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then go to Sign-In & Security. Select Change Password, enter your device passcode when prompted, and type in your new Apple account password twice. That’s it — the change syncs across all your devices automatically.

On Mac

Click the Apple menu and head to System Settings, then click your name and choose Sign-In & Security. Click Change Password, enter your Mac login password when asked, and confirm your new Apple account password. The process mirrors the iPhone workflow but lives in the desktop settings hierarchy.

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password on iPhone or iPad
2. Enter your device passcode when prompted
3. Type your new Apple account password twice to confirm
4. Wait for the change to sync across all your devices automatically

Online via account.apple.com

If you don’t have any Apple device handy, open a browser and navigate to account.apple.com. Click Sign In, then select the Forgot Password link. Enter your Apple account email or phone number, choose to verify via email or security questions, and follow the prompts to set a new password.

The implication: Trusted device access cuts reset time from days down to minutes, but Apple built the web path specifically for situations where you have no device nearby.

How do I change my Apple ID password online?

Changing a password you already know — versus resetting one you’ve forgotten — follows a slightly different flow. You’re signing in first, then modifying security settings rather than recovering access.

Sign in at account.apple.com

Navigate to account.apple.com in any browser and click Sign In. Enter your Apple account email address and your current password. If two-factor authentication is enabled, you’ll need a verification code from a trusted device or phone before proceeding.

Sign-In and Security section

Once signed in, click Sign-In and Security in the left sidebar. Under the Password heading, click Edit. Enter your current password, then type and confirm your new password. Save the change — your new password activates immediately across all Apple services.

Can I find my Apple ID password without resetting it?

Apple doesn’t offer a way to retrieve a forgotten password — there’s no “show me my Apple ID password” button anywhere in the ecosystem. Two-factor authentication means Apple never stores your actual password in a recoverable format.

View options limited

If you’ve saved your password in iCloud Keychain on your devices, you might find it there — but that’s viewing a locally stored credential, not retrieving it from Apple’s servers. Keychain shows passwords you’ve asked the system to remember.

No direct lookup

Apple Support states that resetting is the only official path if you’ve forgotten your password. Any attempt to “look up” or “recover” a password bypasses Apple’s security architecture entirely.

What this means: If you can’t remember the password and don’t have a trusted device, you’re on the account recovery timeline — plan accordingly.

What happens if I can’t recover my Apple ID password?

When you’ve lost access to both your trusted device and your trusted phone number, Apple initiates its account recovery process. This isn’t instant — Apple designed it to verify your identity thoroughly while blocking anyone who might be pretending to be you.

Account recovery process

Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple account email or phone number. Select “Can’t access your trusted devices?” and choose “Can’t use this phone number?” to start recovery. Apple will ask you to verify identity using information on file — billing details, device names, and other account data you’ve provided.

Apple Support describes account recovery as “an automatic process designed to get you back in to your account as quickly as possible while denying access to anyone who might be pretending to be you.” The process verifies your identity with account information you’ve previously provided.

Contact Apple Support

If recovery through iforgot.apple.com fails, contact Apple Support directly. You can use the Apple Support app on a borrowed device: tap Reset Password, then Help Someone Else, enter the Apple ID email or phone, and follow the instructions if the trusted phone number is accessible to a friend or family member.

For users without any device access, the Apple Store offers display iPhones you can use to access iforgot.apple.com and walk through recovery with the Help Someone Else option — staff can assist if needed.

How to reset Apple ID password on iPhone if forgot?

If you’ve forgotten both your Apple ID password and the email associated with the account, the situation gets more complex — you need to identify the account first before you can reset the password.

Forgot email scenarios

If you know your Apple ID email but not the password, follow the standard reset flow via Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Forgot Password. If you don’t know the email either, try entering phone numbers or old email addresses you might have used — Apple will indicate if an account exists with that identifier.

Without phone access

When you’ve lost access to your trusted phone number and can’t receive verification codes, select “Can’t access this number?” during the reset process. Apple will start account recovery and may contact you via an alternative trusted phone number if you’ve previously added one, or via other verification methods.

Apple Support official guide — “The easiest way to reset your password is with your iPhone or other trusted Apple device — one that’s already signed in to your Apple Account.”

Apple Support official documentation — “Account recovery is an automatic process designed to get you back in to your account as quickly as possible while denying access to anyone who might be pretending to be you.”

Related reading: Sign In to Universal Credit · My BT Bill Login

If standard methods fail or you need more options, this detailed Apple ID password reset guide walks through proven recovery steps for forgotten Apple ID passwords.

Frequently asked questions