- Apple users can change their Apple ID passwords on many different devices.
- If users need to recover their Apple ID account, they must submit an account recovery request.
With 230 million iPhones, 71 million iPads and 20 million Macs and Macbooks sold in 2020, according to businessofapps.com, it's clear millions of Americans and people worldwide are dependent upon their Apple products. With these products comes users’ Apple ID, their account allowing them to access and make use of Apple’s services, such as iCloud, iMessage and the App Store, Apple says.
Paired with the importance of your Apple ID is the importance of keeping your account secure with a strong password.
In the pursuit of account security, how do you change your Apple ID password?
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How to change Apple ID password
Before beginning the process, note that your Apple ID password must “contain at least eight characters, a number, an uppercase letter, and a lowercase letter,” Apple says. You cannot use “spaces, the same character three times in a row, your Apple ID, or a password you’ve used in the last year.” Apple gives users additional recommendations to protect their passwords here.
Apple advises iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Apple Watch users to follow these steps:
- Open your device’s settings.
- Select your name.
- Navigate to “Password & Security.”
- Select “Change Password.”
- Enter your current password, as well as your desired new password. If you have forgotten your current password, Apple refers users to this guide.
- Tap “Change” or “Change password.”
Apple advises Mac users to follow these steps:
- Navigate to your Mac’s Apple menu.
- Select the system preferences.
- Click your Apple ID.
- Click “Password & Security.”
- Select “Change password.” You will have to enter the password you use to unlock your Mac before being able to reset your Apple ID password.
Apple advises website users to follow these steps:
- Navigate to appleid.apple.com.
- Direct yourself to “Sign-In and Security.”
- Select “Password.”
- Fill out your current password, as well as your desired new password. If you have forgotten or lost your current password, Apple refers users to this guide.
- Click “Change password.”
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How to recover Apple ID account
Apple recommends users refer to this guide on account recovery and sign-in methods. Users should navigate to iforgot.apple.com and submit an account recovery request. When going through the account recovery process, Apple will, after a short wait period, send you an automated phone call or text with further recovery instructions. Following the provided instructions will regain your access to your Apple ID.
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Did you forget your Apple ID? Luckily, it's really easy to find this information on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac, or PC if you're logged in. If you aren't logged into any of these devices with your Apple ID, you'll have to do a bit more detective work, but this wikiHow article walks you step-by-step through the process of finding it so it's easy and simple to do!
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Open Settings. This is the gray gear icon located on your home screen.
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Tap your name. It's the first option in the menu next to your profile picture.
- If you aren't signed in, you'll see a prompt to sign in instead. If you don't have an Apple ID, you'll be prompted to create one.
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Locate your Apple ID info. As long as you're signed in, you'll see details like your Apple ID email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID.[1]
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Click the
menu. This apple icon is in the top left corner of your screen and opens the Apple menu. -
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Click System Preferences. You can also click the gear icon in your Dock to open it.
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Click Apple ID. It's the icon of an apple inside a grey square on the right side of the window.
- Clicking this will show you your Apple ID.
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Open iCloud for Windows. You most likely installed this to sync your Apple device (like an iPhone or iPad) to your computer.
- If you don't have iCloud for Windows, you can open iTunes instead.
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Look for your Apple ID. As long as you're signed in, your Apple ID will be listed under your name. You may need to find an Account tab to find your Apple ID.
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Check if you're signed into the App Store, FaceTime, or Messages. If you're signed in, your Apple ID should be available for you to find within those apps.
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Check //icloud.com or //appleid.apple.com to see if your Apple ID auto-fills. In a web browser, you can go to these sites and see if you're automatically logged in or if your information auto-fills when you try to log in.
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Check your emails from Apple. The communications from Apple may include your Apple ID, but if the address is masked (d***@icloud.com), the number of asterisks may not match the number of characters in the email address.
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Fill out the form. Enter your first and last names, then enter your email address. If you have multiple email addresses, you can try this multiple times.
- You may need to prove you're not a robot by identifying the letters and numbers in the box.
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Click Continue. You'll see on the next page whether or not an Apple ID is associated with your information. If Apple finds an Apple ID with your information, click Go to Your Account.
- If you forgot your Apple ID, chances are that you also don't remember the password. You can follow the steps on screen to reset your password.
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Question
Why would you need to deauthorize an Apple ID?
Chiara Corsaro is the General Manager and Apple Certified Mac & iOS Technician for macVolks, Inc., an Apple Authorized Service Provider located in the San Francisco Bay Area. macVolks, Inc. was founded in 1990, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and is part of the Apple Consultants Network (ACN).
Phone & Computer Repair Technician
Expert Answer
If you plan on selling or recycling your device, you want to make sure that someone can't get into your account once you get rid of it. So, you really do want to deauthorize everything before getting rid of your iPhone, iPad, or computer.
Question
I’ve forgot my Apple ID but I don’t want to reset it. So what do I do?
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
Find devices where you might be logged in and check your Apple ID. On an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch, open Settings, then tap your name. Your Apple ID should be listed there. Have a Mac instead? Open System Preferences and click Apple ID to see your Apple ID. If you have a PC, open iCloud for Windows (if you have that installed) then look for your Apple ID under your name. Or you can check iTunes if you are signed into that on your PC. Check if you're signed in the App Store, FaceTime, or Messages on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. You can also go to iCloud.com or appleid.apple.com and see if your Apple ID prefills on the sign-in screen. Finally, check your emails from Apple to see if your Apple ID is included in them.
Question
How do I remember my Apple ID?
You click on Forgot ID and it will send it to your email after you provide just a little information so they can be sure it's you.
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