Change your Apple password through Settings on iPhone, iPad, or Mac
The fastest way to change your Apple password is through the device itself. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then select Password & Security. Tap Change Password, enter your current password, then type your new password twice. On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name in the sidebar, select Password, and follow the same steps.
Your new password takes effect immediately on that device. If you use multiple Apple devices, you will need to sign in again on each one with your new password within a few days — Apple will prompt you when you open an app that needs your account.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your password directly in Settings on iPhone, iPad, or Mac without visiting a website.
- Your new password must be at least eight characters and cannot be one you have used in the past year.
- If you have two-factor authentication turned on, you will need a trusted device nearby to confirm the change.
- If you forget your password, you can reset it through iforgot.apple.com, but this requires access to your recovery email or phone number.
Change your password on a web browser if you do not have a device handy
Go to iforgot.apple.com and select Change Apple ID Password. Enter your Apple ID email address, then click Continue. Apple will send a verification code to your trusted phone number or recovery email address — enter that code on the next screen. You will then be asked to create a new password.
This method works from any computer or phone, even if it is not an Apple device. You do not need to be signed into anything first. The password change takes effect immediately, and you will be signed out of all your devices automatically.
What to do if you have two-factor authentication enabled
Two-factor authentication adds a security step: when you change your password, Apple requires you to confirm the change on a trusted device you already own. If you are changing the password on that device itself (like your iPhone), the confirmation happens automatically. If you are changing it on a different device or through the website, you will see a prompt on your trusted device asking you to approve the change.
If you do not have access to a trusted device, you can still reset your password through iforgot.apple.com by answering security questions instead. This takes longer and requires you to remember the answers you set up when you created your account.
Password requirements and what makes a strong Apple password
Your new password must be at least eight characters long. Apple does not require uppercase letters, numbers, or symbols, but using them makes your password stronger. Your new password cannot be the same as any password you have used in the past year, and it cannot contain your Apple ID email address or your name.
A strong password is one that is hard to guess and unique to your Apple account — do not reuse a password from another service. If you use a password manager like iCloud Keychain, Safari, or a third-party app, it can generate and store a strong password for you automatically.
What happens after you change your password
You will be signed out of iCloud on all your devices except the one you changed the password on. Within a few days, each device will ask you to sign in again with your new password. This is normal and protects your account if someone else had access to your old password.
Your Apple ID password is used for the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and any other Apple service linked to your account. Changing it does not affect passwords for individual apps or services you have set up separately.
If you cannot remember your current password
You cannot change your password without knowing the old one if you are using Settings on your device. Instead, go to iforgot.apple.com and select Reset Your Password. You will need to verify your identity using your recovery email address, a trusted phone number, or security questions. After you verify, you can create a new password.
This process is called a password reset, not a change, because you are not entering your old password. It takes the same amount of time and results in the same outcome — a new password that works immediately on all your devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Apple password from a Windows computer?
Yes. Go to iforgot.apple.com, select Change Apple ID Password, and follow the steps. You will receive a verification code by email or text message. This method works on any computer or phone with a web browser, regardless of the operating system.
What if I change my password and then forget the new one?
Go to iforgot.apple.com and select Reset Your Password. You will need to verify your identity using your recovery email, a trusted phone number, or security questions. You cannot reset your password using the old one — you have to prove who you are another way.
Do I need to change my password on every device separately?
No. Change it once in Settings or through the website, and Apple will sign you out of all your other devices automatically. Each device will ask you to sign in again with the new password over the next few days. You only enter the new password once per device.
Will changing my password delete my photos, emails, or other data?
No. Your password protects access to your account, but changing it does not affect the data stored in iCloud or on your devices. All your photos, emails, contacts, and other information remain exactly as they were.
Can I change my password if I do not have a recovery email or phone number set up?
If you are changing the password on a device you already own and are signed into, yes — use Settings and you will not need a recovery method. If you need to reset a forgotten password, you will need either a recovery email, a trusted phone number, or the answers to security questions you set up when you created your account.