How to Reset Your Apple ID

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What do you do if you forget your Apple ID password or email? Apple has made it easy with lots of solutions to solve this issue throughout the years. This wikiHow article will guide you through how to reset a forgotten Apple ID password using an iPhone or Mac computer, or using the phone number associated with your Apple ID. If you already know your current Apple ID's password, you can change the password or email address of your Apple ID.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

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  1. You can tap the gear icon on your Home screen to open Settings.
    • This needs to be done with a friend or family member who has you set up in Account Recovery. If your friend is locked out of their Apple ID account, they will need to answer some verification questions to ensure that they're the account owner before they can ask you, a recovery contact, for help.
    • Both the locked-out person and you need to have at least iOS 15.
    • To set up an account recovery contact, go to Settings > Your Name > Password & Security > Account Recovery > Add Recovery Contact . Tap a contact to send a request (family members will be automatically listed as a recovery contact while other contacts must first accept the request).
  2. It's at the top of the menu.
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  3. It's usually the second listing in the menu.
  4. You'll then see the account recovery screen.
  5. They should be listed under "Account Recovery For." If not, you haven't accepted their request to become an account recovery contact, or they never sent the request.
  6. It's under the header "Account Recovery for [Their Name]."
    • You'll see a six-digit code that you can give to your friend so they can recover their account.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 6:

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  1. You can open System Preferences by clicking the Apple logo, then System Preferences .
    • This needs to be done with a friend or family member who has you set up in Account Recovery. If your friend is locked out of their Apple ID account, they will need to answer some verification questions to ensure that they're the account owner before they can ask you, a recovery contact, for help.
    • Both the locked-out person and you need to have at least macOS Monterey or later.
    • To set up an account recovery contact, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > Password & Security > Manage (Account Recovery) > + > Add Recovery Contact . Enter a contact to send a request (family members will be automatically listed as a recovery contact while other contacts must first accept the request). [1]
  2. You'll see to the right of your profile picture when you open System Preferences.
  3. It's in the panel on the left side of the window next to an icon of a padlock.
  4. " You'll see it near the center of the window.
  5. You'll see this under the "Account Recovery For" header.
  6. You'll get a six-digit code to tell your friend so they can enter it on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac to recover their Apple ID account. [2]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 6:

Resetting Your Password with an iPhone or Mac Computer

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  1. Go to https://iforgot.apple.com/ in your computer's browser. This is Apple's password reset service.
  2. In the "name@example.com" text field near the middle of the page, type in the email address that you use to sign into your Apple ID account.
  3. It's a blue button at the bottom of the page.
  4. Type in the phone number that you used to set up your Apple ID.
  6. This notification will give you instructions to allow you to use your iPhone or Mac computer to reset your Apple ID password.
  7. If your iPhone was locked, enter your passcode and press the Home button, or scan your Touch ID fingerprint.
  8. Doing so will open the iCloud password portion of the Settings app.
    • If for some reason this doesn't work, open Settings , tap your name, tap Password & Security , and tap Change Password before proceeding.
  9. Type in the passcode that you use to unlock your iPhone.
  10. Type the password that you want to use for your Apple ID account into the top text field, then re-type it into the text field below the first one.
  11. It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  12. This can take several minutes, and you may be asked to re-enter your password during this process. Once you see the Change Password text appear near the top of the screen, your password has successfully been updated.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 6:

Resetting Your Password without an iPhone

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  1. Go to https://iforgot.apple.com/ in your computer's browser. This is Apple's password reset service.
  2. In the "name@example.com" text field near the middle of the page, type in the email address that you use to sign into your Apple ID account.
  3. It's a blue button at the bottom of the page.
  4. Type in the phone number that you used to set up your Apple ID.
  6. link. This option uses your phone number and other information to verify your Apple ID account, but it can take several days to complete.
  7. Clicking this button will take you to the beginning of the account recovery process.
  8. Open the Messages app on the phone whose number you entered earlier, open the message from Apple, and review the six-digit code in the message.
  9. Type the six-digit code into the text field in the middle of the page in your computer's browser.
  11. Depending on the type of phone you have, the status of your account, and your Apple ID itself, this process will vary, but following the steps will help you reset your Apple ID password.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 6:

Changing a Known Password

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  1. Go to https://appleid.apple.com/ in your web browser.
  2. Enter your Apple ID email address in the top text field, then enter your password in the bottom field and click → .
  3. It's in the middle of the page.
  4. It's below the "PASSWORD" heading in the "Security" section.
  5. In the pop-out menu that appears, type your current Apple ID password into the top text field.
  6. Type the password that you want to use into the middle text field, then re-type it into the bottom text field to ensure that you spelled it the same way.
  7. It's a blue button at the bottom of the menu. Doing so will update your Apple ID password, though you may need to log out of your Apple ID account on any connected phones, tablets, and/or computers and then log back in before the changes will take effect.
    • You can also check the "Sign out devices" box to sign out any phones, tablets, computers, and websites that currently have your Apple ID logged in with your old password before clicking Change Password... here.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 6:

Changing an Apple ID Email Address

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  1. Go to https://appleid.apple.com/ in your web browser.
  2. Enter your Apple ID email address in the top text field, then enter your password in the bottom field and click → .
  3. It's at the top of the page.
  4. You'll find this option in the upper-right side of the "Account" section.
  5. This link is below the current Apple ID email address in the upper-left side of the "Account" section. A drop-down menu will appear.
  6. Type the email address that you want to use into the text field in the drop-down menu.
    • This must be a different email address than the one at which you receive email notifications if you have them enabled.
  7. It's a blue button at the bottom of the menu. Doing so will test your email address for compatibility and, if it's usable, apply it as your new Apple ID email address.
  8. This small, blue button is in the upper-right side of the Apple ID page. Doing so saves your changes and closes the Apple ID Edit menu.
    • You may need to log out of your Apple ID account on any connected phones, tablets, and/or computers and then log back in with your new Apple ID in order for the changes to take place.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Safari will not let me change my Apple ID. How do I do this?
    Community Answer
    Look in the upper left corner of Safari for system preferences. You should be able to find the link to change it there.
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    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
  • Question
    How do I reset my passcode?
    Community Answer
    On iPhone, go into settings, go to general, and then password setting. It will ask you to put in your old password; once you do, it will unlock all the settings. Then click change password/reset.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4
  • Question
    I forgot my Apple ID but only know my yahoo's rescue email. What do I do?
    Asurajsingh
    Community Answer
    If you forget your Apple ID and are looking for technical support contact Apple Support at https://support.apple.com/.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • If you have two-factor authentication enabled for your account, you will have to enter a code that displays on your phone into your web browser after logging into your Apple ID account before you can make any changes.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212513#getrecoverycode
      2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-my/HT212515
      3. ↑ http://www.macworld.com/article/2046132/solving-apple-id-frustrations.html
      4. ↑ http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204161

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Go to https://iforgot.apple.com .
      2. Enter your Apple ID and click Continue .
      3. Enter your phone number and click Continue .
      4. Look for a notification on your device.
      5. Follow the on-screen instruction.

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