To recover an Apple ID password, use iforgot.apple.com or a trusted device to reset it, or start account recovery if you can’t verify.
Forgot the sign-in to your Apple account? This guide shows clear paths that work on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or the web. You’ll see what to tap, what codes to expect, and what to do when nothing arrives. This walkthrough shows how to recover an apple id password with or without a trusted device. Start with the quickest route that fits your situation, then move to account recovery only when needed.
Reset Options At A Glance
Pick the route that matches your access. The table below maps common scenarios to the fastest reset starting point.
| Method | What You Need | Where To Start |
|---|---|---|
| Trusted iPhone Or iPad | Device unlock passcode, cellular or Wi-Fi | Settings > Your Name > Sign-In & Security > Change Password |
| Trusted Mac | Mac login password, internet | System Settings > Your Name > Sign-In & Security > Change Password |
| Web On Any Device | Apple ID and trusted phone number or email | Visit iforgot.apple.com and follow the prompts |
| Borrowed Apple Device | Access to your trusted phone number | Apple Support app > Support Tools > Reset Password > Help Someone Else |
| Recovery Key Enabled | Your 28-character recovery key | Enter the key when prompted during reset |
| No Trusted Device Or Number | Any phone number or email you can check | Start account recovery and wait for Apple to confirm |
| New Device Signup | New iPhone, iPad, or Mac you’re setting up | On the sign-in screen, choose Forgot Password |
How To Recover An Apple ID Password On A Trusted Device
When you still have a signed-in iPhone, iPad, or Mac, this is the fastest route. Your device can verify you with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, then let you pick a new password.
On iPhone Or iPad
- Open Settings, tap your name, then tap Sign-In & Security.
- Tap Change Password. Confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
- Enter a new Apple ID password that meets Apple’s length and character rules.
- Agree to sign out old sessions on other devices if prompted. This protects your data.
Tip: If you use iCloud Keychain, the device may prompt to update saved logins after the change. Let it sync before you try to sign in on other devices.
On Mac
- Open System Settings and click your name.
- Select Sign-In & Security > Change Password.
- Authenticate with your Mac login password or Touch ID, then set a new password.
After a reset, you may be asked to sign in again in Messages, FaceTime, iCloud, App Store, Apple Music, and third-party apps. Do that once, and you’re set.
Recover Your Apple ID Password On The Web
No Apple device nearby? Use a browser. Go to Apple’s recovery portal at iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID. Apple sends a code to a trusted device or phone number. If you can’t receive the code, the site offers account recovery.
- Go to iforgot.apple.com.
- Enter your Apple ID and follow the prompts to receive a verification code.
- Enter the code and create a new password.
- If no code can be received, start account recovery and submit a reachable number or email.
Keep the browser tab open until you finish the reset. If the page says a wait is required, submit the contact info it asks for, then step away from other signed-in devices until the approval arrives.
Reset With A Borrowed Device
You can reset from a friend’s iPhone or at an Apple Store using the Apple Support app. Your data stays private; the app only routes you through Apple’s secure reset flow.
- Install or open the Apple Support app on the borrowed device.
- Scroll to Support Tools and tap Reset Password.
- Choose Help Someone Else, enter your Apple ID, then follow the steps.
If the app asks for a code, that code goes only on the Apple page or in Settings. Do not read codes to anyone by phone or chat. Apple won’t ask for that.
When You Can’t Verify: Start Account Recovery
If you lost all trusted devices and can’t get codes, account recovery is the safety net. You submit a request and wait for Apple to confirm your identity. This protects you from takeover attempts.
What To Expect
- You’ll enter a phone number or email you can check during the wait.
- Apple may ask for device details to help confirm ownership.
- Approval can take from hours to several days. Avoid signing in on other devices during this period, or the request may cancel.
- Once approved, you receive a link or code that lets you set a new password.
Full steps live in Apple’s guide to account recovery. It also explains why the wait helps protect your data.
Speed Up Approval
- Power off any signed-in Apple gear you’re not using for the request.
- Keep the reachable number active and able to receive calls or texts.
- Respond to Apple’s messages as soon as they arrive.
Common Hurdles And Fixes
Codes Don’t Arrive
Check signal and Wi-Fi. Make sure Do Not Disturb and Focus aren’t blocking alerts. If you have dual SIM, try the other line. On the web, pick the option to try a different number or email. If nothing works, start account recovery.
Incorrect Apple ID
Many people have more than one address. Try the email you use for the App Store or iCloud. On a signed-in device, your Apple ID appears under your name in Settings or System Settings. On the web, the sign-in page can help you look it up.
Forgot Device Passcode
If you can’t unlock your iPhone to reach the password change screen, use recovery mode to erase and restore the device from a backup. Then sign in with your Apple ID after the reset. Finder on Mac and iTunes on Windows can run the restore.
Advanced Data Protection Users
If you turned on Advanced Data Protection, end-to-end encryption covers more iCloud data. Keep a recovery key or recovery contact ready. During a lockout, either one can help regain access after Apple verifies the request.
Security Musts After You Reset
Once you’re back in, harden the account so the next reset—if it ever happens—takes minutes, not days. The main keyword how to recover an apple id password shows up here again because the best recovery is the one you rarely need.
Turn On Two-Factor Authentication
Most accounts already have it on. Check in Settings > Your Name > Sign-In & Security on iPhone, or in System Settings on Mac. Two-factor adds a one-time code on trusted devices or numbers.
Create A Recovery Key
A recovery key is a 28-character code you store safely. If you ever lose access, that key can let you reset your password. Keep a printed copy in a safe place, and never share it. If you use Advanced Data Protection, the recovery key or a recovery contact can help you regain access to your data after you reset the password.
Review Trusted Numbers And Devices
Remove old phones and update your primary number. If you sold a device, make sure it no longer appears under your Apple ID device list. For extra safety, sign out old sessions during the reset when the prompt appears.
Enable Stolen Device Protection
On iOS 17.3 or later, turn this on in Face ID & Passcode. It adds biometric checks and a delay for sensitive changes away from familiar places. That slows down thieves who try to change your Apple ID password while holding the phone.
Taking An Apple ID Password Back: Your Best Route
Use a trusted device when possible—it’s the fastest. Use the web if you have your number. Borrow a device if you need a bridge. If none of those work, start account recovery and wait for Apple to confirm. The main keyword how to recover an apple id password fits every route above.
What To Do When Things Still Stall
When a reset keeps failing, move through these checks. One usually clears the road.
| Situation | What It Means | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| All Devices Signed In | Active sign-ins can cancel recovery | Power off other devices until the reset completes |
| Number Changed | Apple can’t deliver codes | Start account recovery with a reachable number |
| Recovery Key Enabled | Key is now required | Find the printed key and enter it during reset |
| Two-Factor Off | Only email resets appear | Use the email link from Apple and turn 2FA on later |
| Phishing Alerts | Fake prompts or calls | Never share codes; only enter them at Apple sites or Settings |
| No Backup Of iPhone | You need a clean restore | Use Finder or iCloud backup before wiping, when possible |
| Security Delay | Stolen Device Protection added a wait | Keep the device nearby and wait out the timer |
Phone Guidance, Trusted Numbers, And Recovery Keys
Phone Agents Do Not Reset Passwords
No. Use the web portal, a trusted device, or the Apple Support app. Phone agents can guide you, but they don’t reset passwords by voice.
When Your Trusted Number Is Gone
Start account recovery. Add a new reachable number during the request and wait for Apple to confirm. Update your trusted numbers once you’re back in.
Why A Recovery Key Helps
Yes, if you can store it with care. It can save days during a lockout, but anyone with the key can reset the account. Treat it like cash and keep a paper copy in a safe place.
Where To Get Help
Apple’s own guides are the best references during a reset. Use the portal above and the page that explains account recovery. If someone calls or texts asking for codes, hang up and only continue inside Settings or on the Apple site.