Hassle-Free Ways to Reset Your Forgotten Apple ID Password

If you're an Apple user, then you know the value of your Apple ID and password. You can't access Apple services like iCloud, iMessage and Apple Pay without them. You also need these precious credentials to set up new Apple devices -- like any of the new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Series 10 models. 

If you forgot your Apple ID password (and don't use a password manager) or your account has been compromised, you might not be able to access your device or any of Apple's services. Resetting your Apple ID password might be just the trick to gaining access again.

Here are several easy ways to change your Apple ID password.

Reset your Apple ID password with your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch

iPhones account for about half of Apple's revenue, according to consumer data website Business of Apps, so we'll start there. The instructions for resetting your Apple ID password on your iPhone will also work on your iPad and Apple Watch. Here's how.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap your name near the top of the menu.
3. Tap Sign-In & Security.
4. Tap Change Password. 

Follow the onscreen instructions, and you're all set. Easy, right?

Resetting your Apple ID password from a Mac device

You can also reset your Apple ID password from your MacBook or iMac. Here's how.

1. Click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen and click System Settings. 
2. Click your Apple ID in the top left corner of the menu.
3. Click Sign-In & Security.
4. Click Change Password.

Follow the onscreen prompts to finish changing your password. 

Reset your Apple ID password on a new device

While setting up a new Apple device, you'll be asked to sign into your Apple ID. If you can't remember your password, no worries. Here's how to reset your password during the setup process.

1. During device setup, select Forgot Apple ID or Password? whenever the option is available.
2. Finish the setup process.
3. Once setup is complete, select an app or another option that requires you to sign into your Apple ID. 

On iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, you can select Messages. On your Mac computer, follow the instructions above. 

Resetting your Apple ID password without an Apple device

If you've forsaken Apple devices after previously using them, but you still need to log into your Apple ID, you have a few options. You can either borrow a friend or family member's Apple device, or you can use one of the devices in an Apple store. You can't follow the same directions as above, though. Instead, here's how to change your Apple ID password from a borrowed or in-store device.

1. Open the Apple Support app -- you can download the app from the App Store if it's not on your borrowed device.
2. Select Sign-In & Security.
3. Select Reset Apple ID Password.
4. Select Get Started.
5. Select A different Apple ID. 
6. Enter your Apple ID and follow the onscreen prompts.
7. Once your password is reset, make sure to log out. You don't want someone else to have access to your profile.

Reset your Apple ID password from the web

If all else fails, Apple has a website you can visit to reset your Apple ID password. However, Apple warns this process might take longer than the other methods on this list. But if it's your only option, visit iforgot.apple.com, follow the instructions and your password will be reset.

It's important to remember that once you change your Apple ID password on one device, you'll have to log back into your other devices with your new password. So instead of forgetting your new password in three days and repeating this cycle again, save yourself the headache now and log back into everything while your new password is still fresh in your mind.

For more on Apple, here's our iOS 18 cheat sheet, what to know about the iPhone 16 models and everything Apple announced at its September event.

Watch this: Watch Everything Announced at Apple's iPhone 16 Event