Change your iPhone password through Settings in under two minutes

Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then select "Password & Security." Choose "Change Password," enter your current password, then type your new password twice. Your new password takes effect immediately across all your Apple devices.

If you forget your current password, you will need to use your recovery email or phone number instead of entering the old one. The process is the same after that point — Settings > Your Name > Password & Security > Change Password.

Key Takeaways

  • Your iPhone password is the same as your Apple ID password, and changing it on your phone changes it everywhere you use that Apple ID.
  • You need access to your current password, or a recovery email or phone number linked to your account, to make the change.
  • The new password must be at least eight characters long and cannot be one you have used in the past year.
  • After you change your password, you may need to sign back in on other devices like your Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch.

What happens when you change your iPhone password

Your iPhone password is your Apple ID password. When you change it on your phone, it changes everywhere — your Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, iCloud account, and the Apple App Store all use the same password. You do not change a separate "iPhone password"; you change the password to your Apple account itself.

After you change it, any device signed into that Apple ID will ask you to sign in again with the new password the next time it needs to verify your identity. This usually happens within a few hours, though some devices may wait until you manually sign out and back in.

Step-by-step: changing your password in Settings

Step 1: Open Settings and tap your name at the very top of the screen (not "Settings" — your actual name or "Apple ID").

Step 2: Tap "Password & Security."

Step 3: Tap "Change Password."

Step 4: Enter your current password when prompted. If you do not remember it, tap "Forgot password?" and follow the recovery steps instead.

Step 5: Type your new password in the first field. It must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (like ! or @).

Step 6: Type the same password again in the second field to confirm it.

Step 7: Tap "Change" in the top right. Your new password is now active.

If you do not remember your current password

When you reach the "Change Password" screen and do not know your current password, tap "Forgot password?" at the bottom. Apple will ask you to verify your identity using either a recovery email address or a phone number linked to your account.

Choose whichever method you have access to. If you choose email, Apple sends a link to that address — click it and follow the prompts. If you choose your phone number, you will receive a code by text or call. Enter that code, and you can then set a new password without typing the old one.

Password requirements and what makes a strong password

Apple requires passwords to be at least eight characters long and to include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. You cannot reuse a password you have used in the past year, and you cannot use a password that is too similar to your previous ones.

A strong password is one that is hard to guess and does not contain your name, birthday, or common words. "MyDog2024!" is weaker than "Tr0pical!Sunset#92" because it uses predictable information. Avoid sequences like "123456" or "abcdef" even if they meet the character requirements.

What to do if you cannot sign back in after changing your password

If you changed your password and now a device is asking you to sign in again, use your new password. If the device rejects it, make sure you are typing it correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, so "MyPassword" is different from "mypassword."

If you are still locked out, go to Settings > Your Name > Password & Security and check that the password you are using matches what you set. If you have forgotten it again, use the "Forgot password?" option to reset it once more. You can change your password as many times as you need.

Changing your password on other devices

You can change your Apple ID password on a Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch using the same steps: go to System Settings (or Settings), tap your name, select "Password & Security," and choose "Change Password." The process is identical across all Apple devices.

If you do not have access to any Apple device, you can also change your password on a web browser by visiting iforgot.apple.com or appleid.apple.com. Sign in with your Apple ID, go to "Password & Security," and follow the same steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my password delete my photos or data?

No. Changing your password does not delete anything. Your photos, messages, contacts, and all other data remain on your phone and in iCloud. You are only changing the password you use to sign in to your Apple account.

Do I have to change my password on every device I own?

No. You change the password once, and it updates everywhere. However, each device may ask you to sign in again with the new password over the next few hours. You do not need to manually change it on each one.

What if I change my password and then forget the new one right away?

You can reset it immediately using the same process. Go back to Settings > Your Name > Password & Security > Change Password, and use the "Forgot password?" option to verify your identity and set a new one.

Can someone else change my iPhone password without my permission?

Only if they have physical access to your unlocked phone and know your current password, or if they have access to your recovery email or phone number. To protect yourself, use a strong password and keep your recovery email and phone number current and private.