Your Apple ID is the email address or phone number you use to sign into Apple services

Your Apple ID is the account that connects you to everything Apple — iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, iMessage, and your device backups. It is almost always the email address you set up when you first used an Apple device, though some older accounts use a phone number instead.

If you have ever bought an app, stored photos in iCloud, or signed into an Apple device, you already have an Apple ID. You just need to find which email address or phone number it is tied to.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple ID is the email address or phone number you used when you first set up an Apple device or account.
  • You can find it by checking the Settings app on any Apple device you own, or by visiting Apple's account page on any web browser.
  • If you have forgotten which email address you used, Apple can send you a recovery email to help you regain access.
  • You may have multiple Apple IDs if you set up accounts on different devices at different times.

Check the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

The fastest way to find your Apple ID is to look at a device you already own. On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the very top, and you will see your Apple ID email address displayed right there. On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name in the sidebar, and your Apple ID appears at the top of the window.

If you see a name instead of an email address, that is a display name you chose — your actual Apple ID is still an email address, just hidden from view. Tap or click "Name, Phone Numbers, Email" to see the full list of email addresses and phone numbers connected to that account.

Use Apple's website if you do not have a device nearby

Go to appleid.apple.com in any web browser and click "Sign In". If you remember your Apple ID email or phone number, enter it and follow the prompts. If you do not remember it, click "Forgot Apple ID or password?" and Apple will ask you security questions or send a recovery code to an email address you set up long ago.

Once you sign in, your Apple ID email address and all linked email addresses appear on the account page. You will also see which devices are signed in with that account, when you last changed your password, and your recovery email address — the one Apple uses to contact you if you lose access.

What to do if you cannot remember your email address

If you do not remember which email you used, start at appleid.apple.com and click "Forgot Apple ID or password?". Apple will ask you to enter a phone number or email address associated with your account. If you are not sure, try the email addresses you use most often — work email, personal email, or an old email you may have forgotten about.

If none of those work, Apple can verify your identity using your device. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is already signed into your Apple ID, you can use that device to reset your password and regain access to your account. Apple will send a verification code to that device, and once you enter it, you can create a new password and see your Apple ID.

Understand if you have more than one Apple ID

Some people have two or more Apple IDs without realizing it. This happens when you set up a new device years apart, or when you created an account for a specific purpose like a family member's device. Check all the devices you own — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — because each one might be signed into a different account.

You can see which devices are connected to each Apple ID by signing into appleid.apple.com with each email address you think you might have used. Under "Devices", you will see every iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch currently signed in. If you want to use only one Apple ID going forward, you can sign out of the others and sign into your main account instead.

Keep your Apple ID information up to date

Once you know which Apple ID is yours, make sure the recovery email address is current. This is the email Apple uses to contact you if someone tries to access your account or if you forget your password. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click "Account", and look for "Recovery Email". If that email address is old or no longer yours, update it to one you check regularly.

You should also review which devices are signed in. If you see a device you no longer own or use, sign out of it remotely by going to appleid.apple.com, clicking "Devices", and selecting that device, then clicking "Remove from Account". This keeps your account find and prevents old devices from accessing your photos, messages, or payment information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my Apple ID email address?

Yes, but only to a different email address you already own. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click "Account", and select "Edit" next to your Apple ID. You can change it to another email address, but Apple will send a verification code to the new address first. You cannot change it to a phone number.

What if I see an Apple ID I do not recognize on my device?

This usually means a family member or previous owner set up the device. Go to Settings, tap the name at the top, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out". You will be asked for the password to that Apple ID — if you do not know it, tap "Do not have a password?" and Apple can help you regain access or remove the account from the device.

Is my Apple ID the same as my iCloud email address?

Not always. Your Apple ID is the account you use to sign in. If you created an iCloud email address (one that ends in @icloud.com), that is a separate email service. You can use either your Apple ID or your iCloud email to sign into most Apple services, but they are not the same thing.

Can I use a phone number as my Apple ID instead of an email?

Older Apple accounts sometimes use phone numbers, but Apple now requires an email address for new accounts. If you have a phone number as your Apple ID, you can keep using it, but you cannot change it to a phone number if you update your account. You can add a phone number to your account for security purposes, but your Apple ID itself must be an email address.