Forgot Your Apple ID Password? What To Do

If you forgot your Apple ID password, reset it from a trusted Apple device or through Apple’s official account recovery process. If you cannot verify your identity immediately, start account recovery and follow the instructions Apple sends to your trusted contact method.

Your Apple ID, now also called an Apple Account, is the email address or phone number you use to sign in to Apple services. Changing its password does not create a new account or remove information stored in the existing account.

How can you tell whether you forgot your Apple ID password?

A password problem usually means Apple recognizes your Apple ID but rejects the password you entered. You may see a message saying the password is incorrect or be asked to enter it again.

Before resetting the password, check for simple typing problems:

• Make sure capitalization is correct.
• Check whether your device added an unwanted space.
• Confirm that you are entering the password for your Apple ID, not the device passcode.
• Confirm that the email address or phone number shown belongs to the intended Apple account.

A locked, inactive, or disabled account is different. If Apple specifically says the account is locked, inactive, or disabled, follow the recovery instructions shown in that message. Repeated password guesses may make access harder, so use the reset process instead.

What should you do if you forgot your Apple ID password?

If you are asking, “What if I forgot my Apple ID password?” begin on a trusted device that is already signed in. Menu names can vary by device and software version.

1. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, select your name, and look for Sign-In & Security or Password & Security.
2. Select the option to change the password.
3. Enter the device passcode if requested. A device passcode unlocks that device; it is not the same as the Apple ID password.
4. Enter and confirm a new password that meets the requirements displayed by Apple.
5. Complete any verification prompt and save the new password securely.

On a Mac, open System Settings, select your name, and look under Sign-In & Security or Password & Security. If no trusted device is available, open {site}, select the password-reset or sign-in help option, identify the account, and follow Apple’s verification prompts.

What do you need before resetting an Apple ID password?

Gather the account details and verification methods you can still access. A trusted device is an Apple device that is already signed in to the account and can help confirm your identity.

• The email address or phone number used as the Apple ID.
• A trusted iPhone, iPad, or Mac, if one is available.
• The passcode used to unlock that trusted device.
• Access to a trusted phone number or email address associated with the account.
• A two-factor authentication code, if Apple sends or displays one. Two-factor authentication is an extra identity check in addition to the password.

Apple may not request every item. Read each prompt carefully and provide only the information requested through an official Apple screen.

What should you do if you forgot your Apple ID itself?

If you forgot your Apple ID, identify the account before trying to reset its password. Starting recovery with the wrong email address or phone number will not restore access to the intended account.

• Check Settings or System Settings on an Apple device where you may still be signed in. The account identifier normally appears with your name.
• Check Apple apps or services where your account details may already be displayed.
• Search your email inbox for account messages from Apple and note the recipient address.
• Open {site} and use the account lookup or sign-in help option.

If you forgot your Apple ID and password, recover the Apple ID first and then reset the password. Do not create a second account unless you intentionally want a separate Apple account.

What happens after you reset your Apple ID password?

After you reset the Apple ID password, sign in again wherever Apple requests the updated password. Some trusted devices may remain signed in, while other devices, browsers, or Apple services may ask for new authentication.

Update any saved entry in iCloud Keychain, a browser, or another password manager so it does not keep filling the old password. If an app repeatedly shows a sign-in prompt, close and reopen it, confirm that it is using the correct Apple ID, and enter the new password manually.

Review your signed-in devices and account contact details after access is restored. Remove devices you do not recognize and correct any outdated trusted phone number or recovery information.

What should you do if the Apple reset link or code is not working?

If the verification code never arrives, confirm that the trusted phone number or email address shown on screen is one you can access. Check blocked messages, filtered email folders, mobile signal, and whether the device can receive calls or texts.

A verification code can expire or be replaced when a newer code is requested. Use the most recent code and avoid requesting several codes in quick succession. If a reset page has expired, restart the official reset process instead of repeatedly submitting the old page.

An old trusted device may fail to receive prompts if it is offline, no longer signed in, or attached to another Apple ID. Try another trusted device or the available account recovery option. If Apple reports that the account is locked, follow the specific unlock or recovery instructions displayed rather than continuing to guess passwords.

When should you contact Apple Support about a forgotten Apple ID password?

Contact Apple Support when self-service recovery cannot identify the account, no trusted contact method is available, the account remains locked, or Apple’s prompts repeatedly fail after you verify the information entered.

Use the verified support contact block on this page to reach Apple. Explain the exact message shown, which trusted devices or contact methods you can access, and what recovery steps you already tried. Apple Support can explain the available recovery path, but support representatives should not ask you to reveal your password or a verification code.