Change your Apple ID password on any device in a few minutes

You can change your Apple ID password from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any web browser. The fastest route is usually your iPhone or Mac if you own one, because you stay signed in the whole time. If you use a Windows computer or Android phone, go to iforgot.apple.com in any browser and follow the password reset flow. The process takes about five minutes and you do not need to sign out of your devices — Apple updates your password across all of them automatically.

Your new password takes effect immediately on the device where you changed it. Other devices will prompt you to sign in with the new password the next time you use an Apple service like iCloud or the App Store, usually within a few hours. You can speed this up by opening Settings and tapping your name again on those devices.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then Password & Security, then Change Password — you will need your current password or Face ID.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name, then Password, then Change Password.
  • On any computer, visit iforgot.apple.com and choose "I want to change my password" to reset without signing out.
  • You stay signed in on all your devices after you change your password — Apple syncs the new one automatically.
  • If you forget your new password right after changing it, use iforgot.apple.com to reset it again using your recovery key or trusted phone number.

Change your password on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen. Tap Password & Security, then tap Change Password. You will see a prompt asking for your current password or to use Face ID or Touch ID — choose whichever you have set up. Type your new password twice to confirm it matches, then tap Change or Done.

Your new password takes effect immediately. You do not need to sign out of anything. If you have other iPhones, iPads, or Macs, they will ask you to sign in with your new password the next time you use them — usually within a few hours, but sometimes you can speed this up by opening Settings and tapping your name again.

Change your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings (on newer Macs) or System Preferences (on older ones). Click your name or Apple ID in the sidebar on the left. Click the Password tab, then click Change Password. Enter your current password when prompted, then type your new password twice.

The change syncs to your other devices within a few hours. If you have a Mac running an older version of macOS, the steps are the same but the menu names may differ slightly — look for "Apple ID" or your name in System Preferences. You will not be signed out of your Mac or any other device.

Change your password on Windows or Android

Go to iforgot.apple.com in any web browser. Click I want to change my password. Enter your Apple ID email address and click Continue. Apple will send a verification code to your email or phone — enter it when prompted. You will then be asked to create a new password.

This method works on any device and does not sign you out of anything. Your new password syncs to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac automatically, though it may take a few hours. If you use Apple services on Windows (like iCloud for Windows), you will need to sign in again with your new password the next time you open that app.

What to do if you forget your new password immediately

If you change your password and then forget it within minutes, you can reset it right away using iforgot.apple.com. Choose the option to verify your identity using your recovery key (a 28-character code Apple gave you when you set up two-factor authentication) or a trusted phone number (a number you registered with your Apple ID). Both methods let you create a new password without waiting.

If you do not have your recovery key and cannot access your trusted phone number, you will need to contact Apple Support. They can verify your identity using other information like your billing address or recent purchases, then help you regain access to your account. This process usually takes longer than using a recovery key or trusted phone number, so keep those details in a safe place.

Make your new password strong and memorable

Apple requires your password to be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. A strong password is harder for someone else to guess or crack. If you struggle to remember complex passwords, consider using the same password manager you might use for other accounts — many phones and browsers have built-in password managers that store and fill in passwords for you.

Write down your new password somewhere safe if you think you might forget it, or use your device's password manager. Do not share your password with anyone, and do not use the same password for your Apple ID that you use for email, banking, or other important accounts. This protects you if one of those other services is hacked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be signed out of my devices when I change my password?

No. You stay signed in on all your devices. Apple updates your password in the background, and your other devices will ask for the new password the next time you try to use an Apple service like iCloud or the App Store — usually within a few hours.

What if I change my password but then cannot remember it?

Go to iforgot.apple.com and choose to reset your password. You can verify your identity using your recovery key, a trusted phone number, or by answering security questions. This takes a few minutes and you can create a new password right away.

Can I change my password on a shared computer?

Yes, but use iforgot.apple.com instead of changing it in Settings. This way you do not stay signed in on that computer after you close the browser. If you change it in Settings on a shared Mac or Windows computer, sign out of your Apple ID account afterward so the next person cannot access your data.

Do I need to change my password on each device separately?

No. Change it once on any device or at iforgot.apple.com, and Apple syncs it to all your devices automatically. You may need to sign in again on some devices the next time you use them, but you only change the password in one place.