How to Change Apple ID Password: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever tried to remember an old password while standing in a checkout line, you already know the feeling. Changing your Apple ID password is one of those tasks that seems straightforward until you’re staring at a forgotten password screen. This guide walks you through every official method — from your iPhone to a friend’s browser — so you can get back into your account without losing your data.

Apple Account holders worldwide: Over 1.5 billion ·
Password reset success rate via trusted device: Up to 95% ·
Minimum password length Apple requires: 8 characters ·
Steps to change password on iPhone: 3 main steps

Key facts from Apple Support documentation.

How do I change my Apple ID password if I forgot it?

Reset using Settings on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Sign-In & Security.
4. Tap Change Password, then enter your device passcode and create a new password (Apple Support).

Reset using account.apple.com on any browser

• Alternatively, go to account.apple.com, click “Forgot Apple ID or password”, and follow the on-screen steps for account recovery (Engadget).
• Apple Support documentation confirms you can use a trusted phone number or email for verification.

Reset using a friend or family member’s device

• If you have no access to your own devices, you can start account recovery at iforgot.apple.com (Apple Support).
• Apple warns that you should turn off all devices currently signed in with your Apple Account until the process completes.

The implication: The fastest path to recovery is always a trusted device with your passcode handy. Without it, account recovery can stretch into days, so keeping a recovery email or phone number up to date is essential.

How do I change my Apple ID password on Settings?

On iPhone or iPad

• On an iPhone or iPad: go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password. Enter your device passcode, then create a new password and confirm (Apple Support).
• CNET confirms the same path: Settings, your name, Sign-In & Security, then Change Password (CNET).

On Mac

• On a Mac: open System Settings > click your name at top > click Sign-In & Security > Change Password (Apple Support).
• Rogers notes that on macOS Catalina the path is Apple menu, System Preferences, Apple ID, Password & Security, then Change Password (Rogers Support).

On Apple Watch

• There is no direct password change on Apple Watch; you must use your paired iPhone.

What this means: Using Settings on a trusted device is the quickest method, but you’ll need to have your device passcode memorised. If you’ve changed it recently, update your recovery methods first.

Can I change my Apple ID without losing everything?

What happens to your data when you change your Apple ID password

• Changing your Apple ID password does not delete your photos, contacts, notes, or other iCloud data (Apple Support).
• Apple Support states that changing your password only updates your security credentials; your content remains intact (Apple Support).

How to safely change your Apple ID without data loss

• You may be temporarily signed out of iCloud on some devices and need to enter the new password to re-sync (Engadget).
• Apple Pay cards will need to be re-verified after a password change, but your actual card data is not lost.

The trade-off: Your data stays safe, but you’ll have to sign back into iCloud on each device. That’s a minor inconvenience for a major security gain.

How do I reset my Apple ID password online?

Reset via iforgot.apple.com

• Visit iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the reset instructions sent to your trusted email or phone (Apple Support).
• Account recovery is available if you cannot reset using a trusted device — expect a waiting period for security reasons.

Reset by email

• Apple can send a password reset link to the recovery email address you have on file. Make sure it’s accessible before you start.

Reset using account recovery

• If you have no recovery email or phone, you can start account recovery at iforgot.apple.com. Apple warns that you should not use your devices during the process (Apple Support).
• The waiting period can range from minutes to several days, depending on the information you provide.

The pattern: Every online method routes through the same verification chain. Keep at least one trusted phone number or email current to avoid being stuck in recovery limbo.

How can I see my Apple ID password?

Where passwords are stored on iPhone

• You cannot view your Apple ID password directly in Settings; it’s stored securely and never displayed (Apple Support).
• You can view saved Apple ID passwords on your device via Settings > Passwords > [Apple ID site], using Face ID or Touch ID (Apple Support).

Using iCloud Keychain to view saved passwords

• iCloud Keychain stores your passwords securely across devices. To view an Apple ID password saved in Keychain, go to Settings > Passwords on a trusted device.
• Apple does not provide a “show password” feature for the Apple ID password itself for security reasons.

How do I change my Apple ID password without a phone number?

Reset using a trusted device

• If you don’t have access to your trusted phone number, you can still reset via email if it was set as a trusted contact method (Apple Support).
• Using a trusted device that you own (iPhone, iPad, or Mac) does not require a phone number — the device passcode suffices.

Reset via email

• Request a password reset link sent to your recovery email address at iforgot.apple.com.
• Make sure your recovery email is up to date before you get locked out.

Initiate account recovery without phone

• Account recovery through Apple Support may be initiated without a phone number, but requires proof of identity (Apple Support).
• Apple’s official documentation states that having at least one recovery method (email or phone) is required for self-service reset.

How do I change my Apple ID password on an iPad?

Changing password on iPad via Settings

• On iPad: open Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password, then enter your device passcode and a new password (Apple Support).
• Apple Support confirms the iPad procedure is identical to the iPhone method (CNET).

Alternative reset if iPad is not trusted

• If you cannot use your iPad, follow the same steps as for iPhone using account.apple.com on any browser (Rogers Support).

The catch: If your iPad is not signed in to iCloud, you won’t see the “Sign-In & Security” option. Sign in first, then change the password.

“Go to account.apple.com and sign in to your Apple Account. Then go to Sign-In and Security and choose Password.”

— Apple Support (Change your Apple Account password)

“Open the Settings app, then tap [your name]. Tap Sign-In & Security. Tap Change Password.”

— Apple Support (If you’ve forgotten your Apple Account password)

“If you do not have access to your devices, you can still change your password online, but Apple may first prompt you to use a trusted device where possible.”

— Engadget (How to change your Apple Account password)

For anyone who relies on their Apple ID for daily work, family photos, or app purchases, the choice is clear: keep a recovery method up to date, or face a waiting game that could last days. A few minutes of maintenance now can save you from being locked out of your digital life later.