Create New Apple ID Password: Sign-In and Recovery Guide
To create a new Apple ID password, set a strong password during account creation or reset the password for the Apple Account you already use. Apple now calls an Apple ID an Apple Account, but the same sign-in email address or phone number and password still work.
If you cannot sign in, do not create a second account just to get another password. Reset the existing account so you keep access to the data and services connected to it.
What does creating a new Apple ID password mean?
The phrase “create new Apple ID password” can describe two different tasks:
Creating an account: You are making a brand-new Apple Account and choosing its first password. On a new iPhone or iPad, select “Forgot password or don’t have an account?” during setup, then select “Create a Free Apple Account.”
Resetting an account: You already have an Apple Account but have forgotten the password or cannot use it. Apple verifies your identity before allowing you to choose a replacement.
If an email address is reported as unavailable during account creation, an Apple Account may already use it. Try password recovery instead of attempting to create new Apple ID and password credentials for the same address.
Where do I go to set or change an Apple ID password?
On a current iPhone or iPad that is already signed in, open Settings, tap your name, select Sign-In & Security, and tap Change Password. A trusted device is an Apple device already signed in to the account with two-factor authentication.
On a Mac, open the Apple menu, select System Settings, click your name, choose Sign-In & Security, and click Change Password. Apple may ask for the password used to unlock the Mac.
If no trusted device is available, open {site}, choose the Apple Account support area, and select the option for a forgotten password or password reset. Apple may direct the recovery process to a trusted device when one is available.
For a brand-new account, follow the account-creation prompts during Apple device setup or select the option to create an account from the Apple Account sign-in screen.
How do I set the new Apple ID password step by step?
Decide whether you are creating a new account or recovering an existing Apple Account. Reset the existing account if your email address or phone number is already associated with Apple.
For an existing account on an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, your name, Sign-In & Security, and Change Password. On a Mac, use System Settings, your name, Sign-In & Security, and Change Password.
Enter the device passcode or Mac login password when requested. If you are not using a trusted device, provide the Apple Account email address or phone number and follow the identity-verification prompts.
Enter a new password that meets Apple’s requirements, then enter it again exactly the same way to confirm it.
Complete any verification step shown on the screen. Depending on the account and device, this may involve a trusted device, trusted phone number, recovery contact, or recovery key.
Wait for confirmation that the password changed. Test the new password by signing in only through an Apple device setting, Apple app, or official Apple page.
Stolen Device Protection can require a security delay before certain account changes when an iPhone is away from familiar locations. Follow the time and authentication instructions displayed on the device.
What are Apple’s password requirements?
To create a new password for Apple ID access, Apple requires a strong password with:
At least eight characters.
At least one uppercase letter.
At least one lowercase letter.
At least one number.
The entry screen can reject a password for additional security reasons and will explain what must change. Use a unique password that you do not use for another account. Never give anyone your password, verification code, device passcode, or recovery key, including someone claiming to represent Apple.
What should I do if the Apple verification code never arrives?
If the verification screen appears, first check every trusted Apple device for a sign-in notification. On the code screen, select “Didn’t Get a Code?” to see available delivery choices for trusted phone numbers.
If the trusted device is temporarily unavailable, waiting until you can reach it or the trusted phone number is normally the fastest route. If access is permanently lost, use these alternatives:
Select “Can’t get to your devices?” and then the option stating that you cannot use the displayed phone number. Follow the prompts to request account recovery.
Use the Apple Support app on a family member’s iPhone or iPad and choose the password-reset option for a different Apple Account. The other person’s device does not become connected to your account.
Ask a previously designated account recovery contact for a recovery code. A recovery contact cannot view the account or its data.
If a recovery key was enabled, follow Apple’s prompts to use that key with the required verification information. Enabling a recovery key turns off Apple’s standard account-recovery process.
Standard account recovery can take several days or longer. Apple Support cannot shorten the security waiting period. Follow Apple’s instructions about device use during recovery because activity on other signed-in devices may cancel or delay the request.
What happens after I set the new Apple ID password?
After Apple confirms the change, the old password no longer works for new sign-ins. Devices and services may ask for the new password again, so update any password prompt with the replacement password rather than repeatedly entering the old one.
Check each iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows app, browser, or other device where you use the Apple Account. If a device shows a sign-in warning, open its account settings and complete the sign-in with the new password and any requested verification code.
Apple may send an email, text, or device notification confirming that the password changed. If you did not make the change, begin account recovery immediately and review the devices associated with the account through official Apple account settings.
How do I get help from Apple Support for a password problem?
Open {site} and choose Apple Account Support, then select the forgotten-password, locked-account, or sign-in topic that matches the problem. Apple’s support flow can provide guided troubleshooting and show available contact choices for the United States.
You can also use the official Apple Support app and select Apple Account or password help. Support can explain the recovery process, but representatives cannot reveal a password, bypass identity checks, provide a verification code, or accelerate an account-recovery waiting period.