How to Change Your iPhone Password in Settings

Open Settings and find the password section

Your iPhone stores passwords in two places: your Apple ID password (which unlocks your account and iCloud) and your Screen Time passcode (which restricts app and content access). Most people mean the Apple ID password when they say "iPhone password." To change it, open the Settings app on your home screen, then tap your name at the top of the screen.

Once you're in your Apple ID settings, scroll down and tap Password and Security. You'll see options for changing your password and managing two-factor authentication. If you're looking to change your Screen Time passcode instead — the four-digit code that locks certain apps or content — that's in Settings under Screen Time, then Change Screen Time Passcode.

Key Takeaways

Your Apple ID password is changed through Settings > [Your Name] > Password and Security, and requires your current password plus a verification code sent to a trusted device.
Your Screen Time passcode is changed through Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode, and requires your current passcode plus your Apple ID password.
A strong Apple ID password should be at least 12 characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
If you forget your Apple ID password, you can reset it using a trusted phone number or recovery key, but the process takes time and may lock you out of iCloud temporarily.

Steps to change your Apple ID password

After you tap Password and Security, select Change Password. Your iPhone will ask you to enter your current password first — this confirms it's really you making the change. Then you'll enter your new password twice to make sure you typed it correctly.

Apple will send a verification code to a trusted device (usually another iPhone, iPad, or Mac you own). Check that device, find the code, and enter it back into your iPhone. Once the code is verified, your new password takes effect immediately. You'll be signed out of iCloud on all your devices and will need to sign back in with the new password within a few days, or some features like Find My iPhone will stop working.

Your new password must be at least 12 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using your name, birth date, or words that appear in a dictionary. If Apple rejects your password as too weak or too similar to a previous one, try adding more numbers and symbols.

Steps to change your Screen Time passcode

If you want to change the four-digit code that restricts app usage and content, go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode. Tap Change Screen Time Passcode again on the next screen. You'll enter your current passcode, then your Apple ID password (Apple requires this as a security step), then your new four-digit passcode twice.

Unlike your Apple ID password, your Screen Time passcode can be any four digits — it doesn't need letters or symbols. However, avoid obvious choices like 1111 or 0000. If you forget this passcode, you cannot reset it yourself; you'll need to erase your iPhone and set it up again, which will delete all your data unless you restore from a backup.

What happens after you change your password

Once your Apple ID password changes, you'll be logged out of iCloud on every device you own — your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and any others. Within a few days, you should sign back in on each device using your new password. If you don't, features like Find My iPhone, iCloud Photos, and iCloud Backup will stop working on those devices.

You may also be logged out of apps that use your Apple ID to sign in, such as the App Store, Apple Music, or Apple TV+. Open each app and sign in again with your new password. This process usually takes less than an hour across all your devices, but it's worth doing right away to avoid losing access to important features.

If you forget your Apple ID password

If you can't remember your current password and need to change it, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password and Security > Change Password. Instead of entering your current password, tap Forgot Password? Your iPhone will ask you to verify your identity using a trusted phone number or a recovery key (a long code Apple gave you when you set up two-factor authentication).

If you use a trusted phone number, Apple sends a code to that number, and you enter it to prove you own the account. If you use a recovery key, you type it in directly. Once verified, you can create a new password. This process can take 24 hours or longer, and during that time you may not be able to access iCloud or make purchases from the App Store. Keep your recovery key in a safe place — if you lose both your password and your recovery key, Apple cannot help you regain access to your account.

Keeping your password secure after you change it

Write your new password down in a physical location only you can access — a notebook in a locked drawer, not a sticky note on your monitor. Do not share it with anyone, including Apple employees or your phone carrier. Apple will never ask for your password by email, phone, or text message.

If you use the same password on other accounts (email, banking, social media), change those passwords too. A password that works for your iPhone is valuable to a thief, and using it in multiple places puts all those accounts at risk. Consider using a password manager like iCloud Keychain, which stores passwords securely and fills them in automatically, so you only have to remember one strong master password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my iPhone password without a trusted device?

No. Apple requires verification on a trusted device or with a recovery key to change your Apple ID password. This is a security measure to prevent someone else from locking you out of your account. If you don't have a trusted device set up, you can use your recovery key instead, which you should have saved when you turned on two-factor authentication.

What's the difference between my Apple ID password and my Screen Time passcode?

Your Apple ID password unlocks your iCloud account and lets you buy apps and media. Your Screen Time passcode is a four-digit code that restricts which apps and content you can use. You need your Apple ID password to change Screen Time, but not the other way around. Most people only need to change their Apple ID password.

Will changing my password delete my photos or data?

No. Changing your Apple ID password does not delete anything on your iPhone. It only changes how you sign in to your account. Your photos, messages, contacts, and all other data stay on your phone. You may need to sign back into iCloud on your devices after changing your password, but your data remains safe.

How often should I change my iPhone password?

There's no set rule. Change it if you think someone knows it, if you've used it on a public computer, or if you haven't changed it in over a year. If your account shows suspicious activity or Apple notifies you of a security issue, change it right away. Otherwise, once a year is a reasonable practice.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.