Change your iCloud password on any device in under five minutes

You can change your iCloud password from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer. The fastest route is through your iPhone or iPad settings if you have one — it takes about two minutes. On a Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security. On Windows, visit appleid.apple.com, sign in, and select Password & Security from the left menu. No matter which device you use, Apple will ask you to verify your identity before the change goes through, usually by entering a code sent to a trusted phone number or email address.

Your new password must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Apple will not let you reuse a password you have used before on your account. After you change your password, you will be signed out of iCloud on all your devices and will need to sign back in with the new password within a few days — if you do not, Apple locks you out temporarily as a security measure.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name, then Password & Security, then Change Password.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password.
  • On Windows, sign in at appleid.apple.com and select Password & Security from the menu on the left.
  • Apple will ask you to verify your identity by entering a code sent to a trusted phone number or email before the change takes effect.
  • You will be signed out of iCloud on all devices after changing your password and must sign back in within a few days.

Change your password on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap Password & Security. Tap Change Password. Enter your current iCloud password when prompted, then enter your new password twice to confirm it matches.

Apple will send a verification code to a trusted phone number or email address on file. Enter that code on the screen in front of you. Your password changes immediately after you enter the code. You will see a message saying your password has been changed successfully.

Change your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click your name in the sidebar on the left (it appears at the top). Click Password & Security. Click the lock icon in the bottom left corner and enter your Mac login password to unlock the settings.

Click Change Password. Enter your current iCloud password, then enter your new password twice. Apple will send a verification code to a trusted phone number or email. Enter that code when prompted. Your password changes once you enter the code correctly.

Change your password on Windows

Open a web browser and go to appleid.apple.com. Sign in with your Apple ID and password. Click Password & Security in the menu on the left side of the page. Click Change Password.

Enter your current password, then enter your new password twice to confirm. Apple will send a verification code to a trusted phone number or email address. Enter that code in the box on the screen. Your password changes after you enter the code. You will see a confirmation message on the page.

What happens after you change your password

You will be signed out of iCloud on every device you own — your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and any other device linked to your account. This happens automatically within a few minutes of the password change. You will need to sign back in on each device using your new password.

Apple gives you a few days to sign back in before it locks you out temporarily. If you do not sign back in within that window, you will see a message saying your account is locked for security reasons. You can unlock it by going to iforgot.apple.com and following the steps to reset your account access, which takes about an hour.

If you forget your new password right after changing it

Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID email address. Apple will ask you to verify your identity by entering a code sent to a trusted phone number or email, or by answering security questions you set up earlier. After you verify your identity, you can create a new password.

This process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. You will be able to sign back into iCloud on your devices once you have created the new password. If you have trouble verifying your identity, Apple offers account recovery, which can take up to a week but does not require you to remember any security questions or have access to a trusted device.

Why your password keeps getting rejected

The most common reason is that your new password does not meet Apple's requirements. It must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. A password like "Iphone2024!" works. A password like "iphone2024" does not because it has no uppercase letter or symbol.

Another reason is that you are trying to reuse an old password. Apple stores a history of your previous passwords and will not let you use any of them again. If you see an error saying your password has been used before, create an entirely new one that you have never used on your Apple ID account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to change my password on every device?

No. You only need to change it once, on whichever device is easiest for you. Apple updates your password across your entire account immediately. You will be signed out on all devices, but you only perform the change once.

What if I do not have a trusted phone number or email to receive the verification code?

You can add a trusted phone number or email before you change your password. On iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Trusted Phone Numbers or Trusted Email Addresses and add one. On Mac or Windows, do the same through System Settings or appleid.apple.com. If you have no way to receive a code, you will need to use account recovery at iforgot.apple.com.

Will changing my iCloud password affect my App Store or iTunes purchases?

No. Your Apple ID password controls access to all Apple services, including the App Store and iTunes. When you change your password, you change it for everything at once. You will need to sign back in on the App Store after the password change, but your purchase history and downloaded apps remain the same.

How often should I change my iCloud password?

There is no set rule. Change it if you think someone else knows it, if you used the same password on another website that was hacked, or if you have not changed it in over a year. Apple does not force you to change your password on a schedule, but changing it every 12 months is a common security practice.

Can I change my password if I am locked out of my account?

No, but you can reset it. Go to iforgot.apple.com and follow the steps to verify your identity. This is different from changing your password — it creates a brand new one when you cannot sign in. The process takes 15 to 30 minutes if you have access to a trusted device or phone number, or up to a week if you need account recovery.