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How to Reset Apple ID Password

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If you forgot your Apple ID password or you want to reset your iCloud password, we’ll show you how. Your Apple ID account is the same thing as your iCloud account, so if you forgot your iCloud passcode, you forgot your Apple ID passcode. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to reset. Here's how to reset your Apple ID password.

Related: How to Manage Your Apple ID Account in Settings on iPhone

Forgot Apple Password? Here's What to Do

The most important thing to any Apple user (besides their iPhone of course!) is an Apple ID. It lets you access and store content in iCloud, make FaceTime calls, send iMessages, use Apple Pay, and purchase items from the App Store and iTunes Store. Considering your Apple ID holds the key to so much that you do on your iPhone, it is a real pain when the inevitable happens, and you forget your Apple ID password. If you find yourself in this boat, no worries, just head to the Apple account page to reset your Apple ID password. You can't actually recover your Apple ID password, but you can choose a new one with minimum hassle. If you're having trouble with your iPhone repeatedly asking for your Apple ID password, we have a guide to help you troubleshoot.

There are a couple of different ways to change your Apple passwords. If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your iPhone, changing your iCloud or Apple ID password is quick and easy. If not, it’s still easy, but you’ll need to get on a computer and use a browser to reset your password.

The above video is a preview of an iPhone Life Insider Daily Video Tip

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password (on iPhone with Two-Factor Authentication)

How do you reset your iCloud password? If you have an iPhone that’s enabled two-factor authentication, an extra security measure you can enable in your iCloud Settings, then you can reset your Apple ID password (aka iCloud password) from within Settings really easily. This requires three things:

  1. You already have two-factor authentication set up on an iPhone running iOS 10 or later.
  2. You’re already logged into iCloud on your iPhone.
  3. Your iPhone is password protected.

To change your password for Apple ID & iCloud on your iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app and select your name at the top.


     
  2. Tap Password & Security.


     
  3. Tap Change Password.


     
  4. Enter your iPhone’s passcode.


     
  5. Now you can enter your new password. Enter it again to verify.


     
  6. Select Change.

How to Reset Apple ID Password on a Computer

If you don’t have two-factor authentication enabled (or you don’t want to go that route), here’s how to reset your forgotten iCloud password on your computer.

  1. On your computer, open a browser and visit the Apple ID account page.
  2. Click Sign In in the top-right corner of the screen.

    Click Sign In
     
  3. The center of the page says Apple ID and Manage Your Apple Account. Beneath that are the login boxes, and a little further down, Forgot Apple ID or Password? Click that.

    how do you reset your icloud password
     
  4. Next, you’ll see a page prompting you to enter your Apple ID. Hopefully, your Apple ID is easy to remember since it’s always an email address. However, if you can’t, click Forgot Your Apple ID? to retrieve it. Otherwise, enter your Apple ID and click Continue.


     
  5. Next, enter your trusted phone number and click Continue.


     
  6. Now you need to choose whether to reset your password on a different device or use the trusted number you gave. 


     
  7. It will let you know to which device instructions for resetting your Apple ID have been sent.


     
  8. Open the device listed. A message will pop up about resetting your password. Tap Allow.

    How to Reset Your Forgotten Apple ID Password
     
  9. Enter the passcode you use to unlock the device.
  10. Then enter your new password and verify it. Tap Next.

And that's it! After just a few minutes, you now have a new Apple ID password you can use to buy apps in the App Store, to log in to iCloud, etc. Next, you might want to explore how to find saved passwords on a Mac.

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