To reset your Apple ID password on a trusted iPhone or iPad, open Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password, enter your device passcode, and follow the prompts. Apple now calls your Apple ID an Apple Account, so those labels refer to the same account.
The short version
- Start with a trusted device that is already signed in to your account.
- Use iforgot.apple.com when you have forgotten your password and need a browser reset.
- If you can sign in at account.apple.com, choose Sign-In and Security > Password.
- On a borrowed iPhone or iPad, use Help Someone Else in the Apple Support app.
- Account recovery can take several days or longer, and account use during the wait can cancel it.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trusted device | Resets through account settings | A few minutes; delay may add an hour | You are already signed in |
| Web reset | Starts the forgotten password process | A few minutes to start | You need a browser option |
| Signed in website | Changes your current password | A few minutes | You can sign in |
| Borrowed device | Resets through Apple Support | A few minutes to start | You have your trusted phone number |
| Device setup | Starts a reset before signing in | A few minutes to start | You are setting up a device |
| Account recovery | Restores access after a waiting period | Several days or longer | Other reset options failed |
| Child account | Lets a parent change the password | A few minutes | Your child is in Family Sharing |
| Managed account | Uses your organization's reset process | A few minutes to request help | Your account is from work or school |
Reset your password on a trusted device
A trusted device is an Apple device where you have already signed in using two-factor authentication. On an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro, open Settings, tap [your name], then choose Sign-In & Security > Change Password. Enter the device passcode and follow the prompts to set your new account password.
On a Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security and click Change Password. Enter the password you use to unlock your Mac, then complete the onscreen instructions.
On macOS Ventura 13, the account section is called Password & Security, so use Apple menu > System Settings > [your name] > Password & Security. Follow the password controls and verification prompts there to enter and confirm a new Apple ID password.
On macOS Monterey 12, use Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security, then click Change Password. Enter your Mac login password when asked, click Allow, and enter and verify the new Apple ID password.
Reset a forgotten password on the web
Open iforgot.apple.com, choose Reset Password, and follow the onscreen instructions. This is the browser reset route when you have forgotten the password, including when you arrived here looking for an account.apple.com reset.
The browser may redirect you to a trusted device when that option is available. If you will have that device back soon, you can wait and reset the password in its settings instead.
Change your password after signing in
If you can sign in, open account.apple.com and sign in to your Apple Account. Choose Sign-In and Security, then Password, and follow the instructions to change it.
The website may direct you to a trusted device to manage your account. If you cannot sign in because you have forgotten the password, return to the web reset route above rather than trying to reach the signed in password settings.
Use Apple Support on a borrowed device
If your own device is unavailable but you can access your trusted phone number, borrow an iPhone or iPad. Open the Apple Support app, scroll to Support Tools, and tap Reset Password.
Choose Help Someone Else and enter your Apple Account email address or phone number. Tap Continue and follow the reset prompts for your account.
Reset during device setup
When you reach the Apple Account sign-in screen while setting up a device, select Forgot password or don't have an Apple Account?. Follow the onscreen reset instructions for your existing account. This gives you a starting point before you have signed in on that device, so you do not need to finish setup first to begin the reset.
Start account recovery when other options fail
Try the trusted device and borrowed device options before starting account recovery. If you previously set up a recovery contact, ask them for a recovery code to help reset your password before choosing the waiting period.
To start recovery on a device, try signing in through Settings on an iPhone or iPad, or System Settings on a Mac. When you cannot provide the password, follow the option to start account recovery. You can also begin at iforgot.apple.com by choosing Reset Password and following the prompts.
Turn off other devices signed in to your account until recovery ends, because using the account can automatically cancel the request. If you started in Settings, System Settings, or the Apple Support app, you can keep using that specific device. For recovery started on the web, turn off all signed in devices and, if possible, the device you used to start it.
Recovery can take several days or longer, and Apple Support cannot shorten the wait. Your confirmation gives the date and time when you can regain access, and Apple sends a text or automated call when the wait ends. Read Apple's account recovery instructions before starting so you can follow the device shutdown rules.
Change a child's password through Family Sharing
A parent or guardian can use a trusted iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro to change a child's password in their Family Sharing group. Open Settings > Family and choose the child's account. Tap Change [child's Name] Password and follow the prompts.
If the child has Screen Time turned on, you may need to open Personal Information before selecting the password change. You can also use Settings on the child's own device to change their account password.
Reset a work or school account password
For a Managed Apple Account supplied by work or school, use your organization's password reset process. A school administrator or another staff member with password reset privileges can help with accounts managed through Apple School Manager.
For a work account managed through Apple Business, contact someone authorized to manage accounts. If your organization uses federated authentication, reset the password through its identity provider's process instead.
What to do when reset prompts differ
If you enabled a recovery key, standard account recovery is turned off. When you have no trusted device or are locked out, you need that key and a verification code sent to your trusted phone number. Follow Apple's recovery key instructions for this account setup.
A Stolen Device Protection security delay can require an hour before you change the password on your iPhone. Complete the Face ID or Touch ID check, wait, then authenticate again. By default, this applies away from familiar locations, but the Always setting can require it anywhere.
Security question settings apply to accounts without two-factor authentication, so follow the prompts for your own account rather than looking for those options on every device. Calling Apple Support cannot bypass the account recovery wait. Use the reset or recovery method that matches the access you still have.
Protect your account after the reset
Choose a password with at least eight characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, and at least one number. Avoid reusing it for other accounts. If it is not enabled, set up two-factor authentication to add verification when you sign in.
Review the contact details associated with your account once access is restored. If you need a different primary email, follow the steps to change your Apple ID email address. Treat that as a separate account update after completing the password reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is account.apple.com still used for Apple ID password resets?
Yes, it remains the Apple Account website, with password settings available after signing in. For a forgotten password, start at iforgot.apple.com or use a trusted device's Change Password option.
What if account.apple.com sends me to a trusted device?
Follow the trusted device prompt and use its account settings to change the password. The website redirects there when that option is available.
How long does Apple Account recovery take?
It can take several days or longer. Check the date and time in your confirmation, and keep signed in devices turned off as instructed so account use does not cancel the request.
Can I reset an Apple Account password from Apple Watch?
Yes, on a trusted Apple Watch, open Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password and follow the prompts. You cannot change these settings on the Watch if Stolen Device Protection is turned on for its paired iPhone.
Is my device passcode the same as my Apple Account password?
No, the device passcode unlocks your iPhone or iPad, while the Apple Account password is used for Apple services. The trusted device reset asks for the device passcode to let you set a new account password.