Forgot Your Apple ID Password? Here's How to Reset It

 

With the release of iOS26, Apple users are in for a treat. From Apple Music’s AutoMix - which gets you DJ-style transitions between songs to paying in easy installments right from Apple Pay, there’s a stunning lineup of new features waiting for you in 2025.

But even the best features can hit a snag when you forget your Apple ID password, which is probably why you’ve landed on this page.

Without further ado, let’s reset your Apple ID password with these easy step-by-step instructions.

(This particular password reset can take up to a few days. If you don't want to forget your password again, make sure to try our password manager for free)

How do I reset my Apple ID password: Step-by-step guide

Here’s how to reset your Apple ID password on known or borrowed devices:

Using a trusted iOS device (iPhone)

1. Go to Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen.
2. Click “Sign-In & Security” and tap “Change Password.”
3. Enter your device passcode when prompted.
4. Enter your new Apple ID password and confirm it. You can also follow these steps for a trusted iPad, Apple Vision Pro, or Apple Watch.
5. If you don’t have access to a trusted device, try using your Recovery Key. Note that you’ll need the verification code sent to your phone number to finish the reset.
6. Another method to regain access to your Apple ID account is to reach out to your account recovery contact to get a Recovery Code. If your contact is on an iPhone or iPad, they’ll need to go to Settings > [Apple ID Name] > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery.
   
   Then, they'll choose your name under “Account Recovery For” and tap “Get Recovery Code.” If they’re on a Mac, they’ll need to start by clicking the Apple logo in the menu bar before proceeding.

Using the iforgot website

1. Head to https://iforgot.apple.com in your web browser.
2. Click “Reset Password” under the Apple logo.
3. Enter your Apple email or phone number, type in the code provided on the page, and click “Continue.”
4. On the next screen, enter the phone number associated with your Apple ID and click “Continue.”
5. You’ll see a pop-up with the words “Use this iPhone to reset your Apple ID password.” Choose “Allow.”
6. Then enter your device passcode or macOS admin password.
7. Click “Continue.” Enter your new password twice and click “Change.”

Using a Mac

1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security.
2. Select System Preferences if you have an older version.
3. Next, click “Change Password.”
4. Enter your Mac’s password after the prompt, type in your new Apple ID password, and confirm it.

Using the Apple Support app on a borrowed device

1. Download the Apple Support app from the App Store.
2. Open the app and scroll to “Support Tools.”
3. Tap “Reset Password.”
4. Select “Help Someone Else.”
5. Enter your Apple ID phone number or email address.
6. Tap “Continue” and follow the instructions to complete the process.

Using Account Recovery on your web browser or device

This option is for you if you can’t reset your password with any of the above methods, such as using:

• a trusted device
• a recovery key
• verification codes sent to your phone or email
• a friend’s trusted Apple device (via the Apple Support app)

1. First, go to https://iforgot.apple.com
2. Enter your Apple ID and click “Continue.”
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset.
4. Alternatively, you can start account recovery on your device: go to “Settings” or “System Settings” to do this.
5. After you request Account Recovery, you’ll get an email from Apple telling you the date and time you can expect to regain access.
6. When the waiting period is over, Apple will send you a text or automated call with instructions on how to proceed.
7. In some cases, you may be able to shorten your wait by confirming your identity with credit card details. If given this option, an authorization request will go to the card issuer.

How does Apple verify your ID?

If you have two-factor authentication enabled, you can verify your identity by:

• Entering your Apple ID password
• Receiving a six-digit verification code on a trusted Apple device
• Entering the verification code to confirm your identity

How do I verify my Apple ID without access to email?

To verify your Apple ID without access to email, you can use your trusted phone number to receive verification codes via text or automated calls.

• On the verification code screen, select “Didn’t get a code?” or “Can’t get to your devices?”
• Choose to get the code sent to your trusted phone number.
• You’ll get a text message or phone call from Apple with your verification code.

For some older accounts, security questions may work for verification. However, two-factor authentication is recommended if you have iOS 9 or later or Mac with OS X El Capitan or later.

The Apple Support app can also generate a temporary support PIN on your device, which you can use to verify your identity when interacting with Apple support.

Why is it important to have a strong, unique Apple ID password?

A strong and unique Apple ID password protects your account from unauthorized access

According to Microsoft, identity-based attacks rose by 32% in the first half of 2025. The bad news? Gmail login credentials were part of 183 million passwords exposed.

You can check if your Gmail password was impacted by heading to Have I Been Pwned (HIBP).

Compromised emails were added to the HIBP site on October 21, 2025, which is why it’s making headlines right now.

It’s important to note that Gmail itself wasn’t hacked; the attack hit other less secure platforms.

The good news is: Phishing resistant MFA and strong, unique passwords generated & stored in LastPass can block 99% of unauthorized logins to your accounts.

How do I create a strong and memorable Apple ID password?

Prioritize length and choose a unique combination of letters, numbers, and symbols

Complex passwords that are long and contain letters, numbers, & symbols have higher entropy (a measurement of its strength).

But we can all agree that keeping track of multiple, complex passwords can lead to cognitive overload and password fatigue.

At LastPass, our free Secure-by-Design password generator is an easy way for you to create a strong, memorable Apple ID password.

Avoid common passwords and the #1 habit fueling identity theft

You’ll want to avoid creating easily guessed passwords, such as:

• 123456
• root
• qwerty123
• 11223344
• admin123
• pass@123

Most importantly, you’ll want to avoid reusing passwords. According to our internal surveys, more than 90% of users know that password reuse is risky.

But nearly 60% do it anyway – and password fatigue (the overwhelm of remembering too many passwords) is to blame.

According to Cybernews, 94% of leaked passwords are reused or duplicated.

Are data leaks a big deal?

Yes, data leaks can lead to financial loss, reputational damage, and severe emotional distress.

So, although it’s easy to reuse passwords, it increases your risk of identity theft and fraud.

And some types of fraud, like medical identity theft and new account fraud, can take months or years to resolve.

According to a study by the ITRC (Identity Theft Resource Center), losses between $10,000 to $1 million+ are now common and are driving high levels of emotional distress.

Among the general population, thoughts of self-harm have increased by 20 percentage points for victims of identity theft.

And if you’re doing business, leaked passwords mean you’re looking at:

• Financial losses: When employee login credentials are leaked, it opens the door to business email compromise (BEC) and ransomware, which has already cost businesses $100+ billion worldwide.
• Supply chain attacks: One compromised business email can enable attackers to impersonate you and send phishing emails to all your vendors.
• Reputation damage: When your compromised email account starts spamming your vendors, partners, and customers, you don’t just lose a few customers. You lose their friends and anyone who hears about it.
• Intellectual property theft: Everything that gives you a competitive edge is at stake if your organization’s emails (and login credentials) are stolen and sold on Dark Web forums.
• Compliance fines and penalties: Stolen credentials can lead to unauthorized access and the exposure of customer data. If that happens, you’re looking at fines and legal costs that can bring your business to its knees.

But with LastPass, you have an ally in your corner.

How does a password manager like LastPass enhance security?

While Apple’s new password app has a few benefits, a password manager like LastPass offers additional advanced features like cross device compatibility and more:

• AES-256 encryption: This is military-grade protection, the same one used by the NSA, federal agencies, and the military to protect Top Secret data.
• URL encryption: With LastPass, URLs tied to login credentials are stored in an encrypted state in your vault. And in 2025, URL encryption is available for both consumer and business accounts.
• Smart autofill: Never forget your Apple ID password and never get locked out again. LastPass autofill does the hard work of filling in your credentials every time you log in.
• Zero knowledge architecture: Our new, purpose-built security architecture is the culmination of several years of dedicated, determined effort to provide world-class security to you.
  
  Zero knowledge means exactly what you’re thinking: You’re the only one who can decrypt your data. Not even LastPass can access the contents of your vault.
  
  Your trust is so important to us that we established our new Compliance Center, built on Security, Privacy, Compliance, and Transparency. Check out the new LastPass Compliance Center here.
• Key rotation for federated users: Have a business? As a LastPass Business user, you can also set up a “recurring vault re-encryption" policy. With this, your business data and intellectual property are kept safe from prying eyes. You enjoy ironclad security, protecting daily operations and business continuity.
• FIDO2 MFA: Added to the above, FIDO2 MFA with hardware security keys or passkeys protects your business from account takeovers.
  
  Each login is tied to your device and biometric identity. Even if an attacker tries to break in, they still can’t access your vault data without your physical device and biometrics.
  
  From cutting-edge encryption to advanced FIDO2 MFA, we make sure your credentials are locked tight, while still being easy for you to manage. Unlock effortless credential security today with a free 30-day LastPass Premium trial or Business Max trial (no credit card required).

Sources:

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/apple-services-deliver-powerful-features-and-intelligent-updates-to-users-this-fall/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2025/10/27/gmail-passwords-confirmed-as-part-of-183-million-account-data-breach/
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/gmail-still-safe-183-million-passwords-exposed-one-biggest-hacks-2025-1750393
https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2025/10/16/mddr-2025/
https://www.threatdown.com/blog/one-in-five-fortune-500-companies-leaked-credentials-in-the-past-30-days/
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/business-email-compromise-55bn/
https://cybersecurityventures.com/ransomware-damage-to-cost-the-world-57b-in-2025/
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/recovering-from-identity-theft-fraud/
https://oneworldrental.com/blog/how-to-factory-reset-macbook-pro-without-password/
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102633
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102608
https://support.apple.com/en-us/118574
https://support.apple.com/en-au/102606
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102656

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