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Your Apple ID password is the key to all your Apple devices, as well as various Apple services like iCloud, the App Store, and Apple Music. Forgetting the password for your Apple ID is certainly a frustrating experience. It happens to the best of us, but the process of resetting or changing your Apple ID password is straightforward. Today, we’re covering the ins and outs of how to reset your Apple ID password on different devices and best practices for securing and managing your password in general.
Contents:
- Before you reset your Apple ID password
- How to reset your Apple ID password on iPhone and iPad
- How to reset your Apple ID password on a Mac
- How to reset your Apple ID password online
- How to reset your Apple ID on a new device
- What to do if the standard Apple ID reset methods haven’t worked for you
- Best practices for managing and securing your passwords
Before you reset your Apple ID password
Before you go about resetting or changing your Apple ID password, it’s important to have all the necessary information for the process. Here’s what you’ll need:
Email address: Make sure you have access to the email address that you’ve used with your Apple ID.
Security questions: Have answers ready to any security questions if required.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): If you’ve enabled MFA, ensure you have access to the trusted device or phone number.
Recovery email or phone number: If you’ve set up a recovery email or phone number, ensure you can access it.
On top of that, it is also crucial to note that Apple has a set of specific requirements for passwords, including:
A password has to be at least eight characters long.
A password must include a number.
A password must include both uppercase and lowercase letters.
How to reset your Apple ID password on iPhone and iPad
Go to “Settings” and tap on your name.
Select “Sign-In & Security.”
Tap “Change password.”
Enter your device’s passcode. Then, enter your new password and confirm it.
Tap “Change” or “Change Password.”
How to reset your Apple ID password on a Mac
Click on Apple’s logo at the top left of your screen.
Select “System Preferences” and click on your name.
On the left, select “Sign-In & Security.”
In the next window, select “Change password.”
You will need to enter your device’s password.
You will be able to enter your new password in the next window. Then, select “Change” and “Done.”
How to reset your Apple ID password online
Go to appleid.apple.com
Click “Sign in” and select “Forgot password?”
Enter your email address or phone number, enter the CAPTCHA code, and click “Continue.”
You will receive a prompt to change your password on one of your Apple devices.
If you don’t have the device with you, you will have to either answer security questions or confirm your identity via email. If you are unable to do that, you will be asked to enter the 2FA recovery key to reset your password. You can create a new password only after you’ve confirmed your identity.
How to reset your Apple ID on a new device
During the setup of a new Apple device, you will be asked to enter your Apple ID.
Select “Forgot password or don't have an Apple ID?”
Finish the setup of a new device.
As soon as the setup is complete, select an app that requires you to sign in to your Apple ID. On iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, you can simply select Messages. On a Mac, follow the instructions above.
What to do if the standard Apple ID reset methods haven’t worked for you
In case the outlined methods for resetting or changing your Apple ID password don't work for you, there are still a few alternative strategies you can try. These methods can help you recover your account and regain access to all your Apple devices and services.
Check for devices already signed in with your Apple ID: If you have other Apple devices already signed in with your Apple ID, you can use one of those devices to reset your password. This can often be the quickest solution since it allows you to bypass additional verification steps.
Use recovery information: When setting up your Apple ID, you may have provided a recovery email address or phone number. If so, Apple can send you a verification code or reset link to help you regain access to your account.
Contact Apple Support: If you’ve tried the above methods without success, reaching out to Apple Support is your next best option. Apple Support can assist you in verifying your identity and recovering your account. While this might take a bit more time, it’s a reliable way to resolve the issue.
Best practices for managing and securing your passwords
To avoid the frustration of forgetting your Apple ID password in the future, we highly recommend adopting strong password management practices.
Create strong, complex passwords
Whenever you’re creating a password for a website, app, or service, remember that a strong password is a password that’s at least eight characters long and includes a healthy mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, as well as special characters. During password creation, it is also important to avoid using any easily guessable information such as your name or birthdate. If you’re looking for inspiration and practical tips for creating a strong and complex password, check out our Five Strong Password Ideas post.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Beyond strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) can further secure your accounts. MFA provides an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification in addition to the traditional username and password combination. This could be a code sent to your phone, a biometric scan, or a prompt on a trusted device.
Use a password manager
Finally, managing multiple strong passwords can be challenging and quite frustrating. This is where a password manager like NordPass can come in handy. NordPass simplifies password management and life online in general by offering a single secure place to safely store it all: passwords, passkeys, credit cards, personal information, secure notes, and more. On top of that, NordPass is designed to automatically save and fill in your credentials when you need to log in, saving you time and reducing the risk of password fatigue. NordPass for iOS even allows you to sync your passwords across all your devices, ensuring you have access to your digital valuables whenever, wherever. Even when you’re offline.
Start using passkeys instead of passwords
Passkeys are a new, convenient, and phishing-resistant way to sign up for and access apps, websites, and other various online services. In essence, a passkey is a digital login credential that uses your device—be it a phone, laptop, tablet, or desktop—to authenticate you instead of a traditional combination of a username and password. Cybersecurity experts see passkeys as the future of authentication technology, which will inevitably replace passwords. Tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Apple already allow users to opt for passkey-based authentication on their services. If you want to take your access security to the next level, we highly advise moving toward passkey-based authentication. To learn the ins and outs of setting up and using passkeys on your Apple devices, be sure to check out our latest blog entry on that exact topic.
By adopting these practices into your routine, you'll significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts and minimize the stress of managing multiple passwords. Not only will your Apple ID be more secure, but you’ll also have the peace of mind of knowing that all your online accounts are protected.