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.
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