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Discover six ways to reset your Apple Account password and regain access – plus how to reset your child’s account password.

How to Reset Your Apple Account Password and Regain Access to Your Account

Apple ID is now Apple Account. You can still sign in with the same email address or phone number and password.

The easiest way to reset your Apple Account password is with your iPhone or another trusted Apple device that’s already signed in. Since Apple recognizes it as your device, you’ll just need your passcode (or Mac login password) to complete the reset.

No access to a trusted device? You can still reset your password through the Apple Support app, on the web, by calling Apple Support, or by using Account Recovery.

Reset Your Apple Account Password on Your Trusted Device

Resetting your Apple Account password on a trusted device is easy thanks to two-factor authentication (2FA).

If Stolen Device Protection is enabled, you might be required to wait one hour to use FaceID to reset your Apple Account.

On iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro:

1. Open the Settings app and tap [Your Name].
2. Tap Sign-In & Security, then Change Password.
3. Enter your device passcode.
4. Enter and verify your new password, then tap Change to confirm.
5. When prompted, choose whether to sign out other devices using your Apple Account.

On Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo () in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings and click [Your Name].
3. Select Sign-In & Security, then Change Password.
4. Enter your Mac login password.
5. Enter and verify your new password, then click Continue to confirm.
6. When prompted, choose whether to sign out other devices using your Apple Account.

Reset Your Apple Account Password on a New Apple Device

If you skipped signing into your Apple Account during device setup on a new Apple device, you can select Forgot password or don’t have an Apple Account?, you can reset your password afterwards in Settings.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Apple Account.
3. Tap Forgot password?.
4. Enter your Apple Account email address, then tap Continue.
5. Enter your trusted phone number, then tap Continue. A verification code will be sent to your trusted phone number.
6. Enter the verification code from your trusted phone number.
7. Enter your device passcode.
8. Enter and verify your new password, then tap Continue to confirm.
9. Enter your device passcode again and you’re done.

On Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo () in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings.
3. Click Sign in, then click Forgot Password?.
4. Enter your Apple Account email address, then tap Continue.
5. Enter your trusted phone number, then tap Continue. A verification code will be sent to your trusted phone number.
6. Enter the verification code from your trusted phone number.
7. Enter your device passcode.
8. Enter and verify your new password, then tap Continue to confirm.
9. Enter your device passcode again and you’re done.

Reset your Apple Account Password With the Apple Support app on a Borrowed Device

If you’re not logged into your Apple Account on any of your Apple devices but have access to your trusted phone number, you can borrow an Apple device from a friend or family member, or use one at an Apple Store.

1. On the borrowed Apple device download the Apple Support App from the Apple Store (How to download apps from the Apple app store).
2. Open the Apple Support app and tap Continue.
3. Scroll down to Support Tools, then tap Reset Password.
4. Tap Reset My Password.
5. Enter your device passcode.
6. Enter and verify your new password and tap Continue.

Any information that you enter will not be stored on the device.

Reset Your Apple Account Password on the Web

You can regain access to your account by resetting your password on the web. When possible, the web browser will redirect you to a trusted device instead.

Reseting your password on the web takes longer. If you have access to one of your trusted devices soon, it may be faster and easier to reset your password at that time.

Reset your password at iforgot.apple.com:

1. Open the Safari web browser and navigate to iforgot.apple.com.
2. Tap or click Reset Password, and then Continue.
3. Enter your Apple Account email address, and then Continue.
4. If prompted, solve the CAPTIA.
5. Answer all the security prompts and follow the onscreen instructions to reset your password. The process varies according to your circumstances.

Reset Your Apple Account Password By Calling Apple Customer Support

If you’ve exhausted all the password reset options described above and still can’t reset your password, you can reach out to Apple Customer Support for assistance. Be prepared to answer security and other personal questions to verify your identity. There is no charge for Apple Support assistance with resetting your password.

Apple Customer Support: (800) 275-2273

Use Account Recovery When You Can’t Reset Your Apple Account Password

If you are still not able to reset your forgotten Apple Account password and you use two-factor authentication (2FA), you can regain access after an account recovery waiting period.

What is Account Recovery?

Account recovery is a process designed to get you back into your Apple Account when you don’t have enough information to reset your password. For security reasons, it might take several days or longer before you can use your account again. This is important to keep your account and information safe.

Use account recovery only as a last resort when you can’t sign in or reset your Apple Account password any other way.

• If you don’t know which email address or phone number you use with your Apple Account, try different email addresses or phone numbers. You can sign in and reset your password with any email addresses or phone numbers on file in your Apple Account.
• If you set up an account recovery contact, they can also help you reset your password.

Start Your Account Recovery

Two-factor authentication (2FA) must be enabled to use account recovery. There are three (3) ways to initiate account recovery:

1. The quickest and easiest way is right on your device. In Settings or System Settings, try to sign into your Apple Account. If you don’t know your password and can’t verify your account information, you’ll receive the option to start account recovery.
2. In the Safari web browser navigate to iforgot.apple.com to start the process.
   1. Tap or click Reset Password, and then Continue.
   2. Enter your Apple Account email address, and then Continue.
   3. If prompted, solve the CAPTIA.
   4. Tap or click “Can’t use any of these options?” to start the process.
3. Turn off all of your Apple devices after starting account recovery.
   • If you started your account recovery in Settings or System Settings, you can continue to use that specific device during the account recovery period.
   • Regardless of how you started the account recovery request, you should turn off all other devices that are currently signed in with your Apple Account until account recovery is complete. If your Apple Account is in use during your request, your account recovery will be cancelled automatically.
   • If you started your account recovery request with iforgot.apple.com through your device’s browser, you should avoid using that device during this period. If possible, turn that device off. Using that device might cancel account recovery.

After You Start Account Recovery

After requesting account recovery, you will get an email with a confirmation of your request and the date and time of when you can expect to regain access. This email arrives within 72 hours.

It may be several days or more before you can reset your password. Contacting Apple Support can’t help you shorten this time.

When the waiting period is over, Apple will send you a text or automated phone call with instructions to regain access to your account. If you don’t receive the text or call, once the period specified in the original email is over, you can still go directly to apple.com/recover. Follow the instructions to regain access to your Apple Account.

In some cases, you might be able to shorten the account recovery process or reset your password immediately by verifying a six-digit code sent to your primary email address. You might also be able to shorten the wait time by providing credit-card details to confirm your identity. If you’re given this option, an authorization request goes to the card issuer.

For the purposes of validation, Apple Pay doesn’t work as a credit card validation. If you enter your credit-card details correctly, and are asked to re-enter your security information, contact your card issuer. The issuer might have declined your authorization attempts.

Check the Status of Your Account Recovery Request

At any time, you can see how long it will be until your account is ready for recovery, or when more information will be available. Just go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple Account email address or phone number.

Cancel Your Account Recovery Request

• If you remember your information and can sign in successfully, your wait period cancels automatically and you can use your Apple Account immediately.
• To cancel a recovery request that you did not make, follow the instructions in your email confirmation. 

Change Your Child’s Apple Account Password

If you have the latest version of operating system on your device and two-factor authentication (2FA) turned on for your Apple Account, you can change the Apple Account password for a child account in your Family Sharing group.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. On the parent’s device open the Settings app.
2. Tap Family, under your name.
3. Tap your child’s account.
4. Tap Apple Account & Password.
5. Tap Change [Child’s Name] Password.
6. Enter your parental passcode.
7. Enter and verify the child’s new password and tap Continue.
8. When prompted, choose whether to sign out other child’s devices using their Apple Account.

On Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo () in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings.
3. Scroll down and select Users & Groups.
4. Select the child’s account from the user list.
5. Click the Change button next to their name.
6. Enter your parental passcode.
7. Enter and verify your new password, then tap Continue to confirm.
8. Enter your device passcode again and you’re done.
9. When prompted, choose whether to sign out other child’s devices using their Apple Account.