You cannot retrieve your actual Apple password, but you can reset it in minutes

Apple does not store your password in a way that lets anyone — including Apple support — look it up and send it to you. This is intentional security: a password that can be retrieved is a password that can be stolen. Instead, you reset your password through your Apple ID account, which takes about five minutes and requires proof that you own the account.

The reset process is different depending on whether you remember your Apple ID email address and can access a trusted device or recovery contact. If you are locked out of everything, the path is longer but still straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple passwords cannot be retrieved — you must reset yours through your Apple ID account page or a trusted device.
  • If you remember your Apple ID email and have access to a device you previously signed in on, you can reset your password in under five minutes.
  • If you do not have a trusted device, you can reset your password using a recovery contact or by answering security questions you set up earlier.
  • Two-factor authentication makes resetting harder if you lose access to your phone number or trusted devices, so keeping a recovery contact updated prevents this.

Reset your password from a device you already signed into

If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac where you are currently signed into your Apple ID, this is the fastest reset path. Open Settings (or System Preferences on a Mac), tap or click your name at the top, then tap or click Password & Security. Select Change Password, enter your device passcode or Mac password to confirm you own the device, then type your new password twice.

Your new password takes effect when ready on that device and all others. You do not need to sign out and back in — Apple updates it in the background. If you use iCloud, Mail, or other Apple services on other devices, you may be asked to enter your new password the next time you open those apps, but this usually happens within an hour.

Reset your password from Apple's website if you do not have a trusted device

Go to iforgot.apple.com in any web browser. Enter your Apple ID email address, then click Continue. Apple will ask you to verify your identity in one of three ways: enter a code sent to your email, answer security questions you created when you set up your account, or use a recovery contact (a trusted person you designated to help you regain access).

If you choose the email route, check the inbox for your Apple ID email address — the message comes from Apple and contains a six-digit code. Enter that code on the website, create a new password, and you are done. If you do not see the email within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder, or try a different verification method.

If you choose security questions, you will be asked two or three questions you answered when you created your account — things like your first pet's name or the city where you were born. Answer them correctly, then create your new password. If you cannot remember the answers, you cannot use this method; try email or a recovery contact instead.

Use a recovery contact if you cannot access your email or remember security questions

A recovery contact is a person you trust — usually a family member or close friend — who can receive a code to help you reset your password. If you set one up before you got locked out, go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and select "I don't have access to these options" at the bottom of the verification screen. Choose Recovery Contact, and Apple will send a code to that person's phone number or email.

Your recovery contact will receive a message asking them to share a code with you. Once you have that code, enter it on the website, create a new password, and your account is unlocked. This method only works if you set up a recovery contact before you lost access — you cannot add one after you are locked out.

What to do if you have two-factor authentication and lost your trusted phone

Two-factor authentication adds a security layer: when you reset your password, Apple sends a code to a trusted device or phone number. If you no longer have access to that phone number or any trusted devices, the reset process pauses until you can verify your identity another way.

Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID email. When Apple asks for verification, select "I don't have access to these options" and choose Recovery Contact or answer security questions if you remember them. If you set up two-factor authentication but have no recovery contact and cannot answer security questions, you will need to contact Apple Support — they can verify your identity by asking for information from your account history and help you regain access.

Prevent future lockouts by updating your recovery information now

Once you have reset your password and regained access, spend five minutes updating your account so you never get stuck this way again. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Recovery Contact and add a trusted person. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > [Your Name] > Password & Security and do the same.

You can also review your security questions and make sure the email address on file is one you still use. If you have changed phone numbers, update the phone number associated with your account so two-factor authentication codes reach you. These changes take effect when ready and make password resets much faster if you ever forget again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Apple tell me what my password is?

No. Apple does not store passwords in a readable form, so no one at Apple can retrieve yours. This is a security feature — if passwords could be retrieved, hackers who broke into Apple's systems could steal them. You must reset your password instead.

How long does it take to reset my Apple password?

If you have a trusted device or can access your email, five to ten minutes. If you need to use a recovery contact, it depends on how quickly that person responds to Apple's message — usually a few minutes to an hour. If you have no recovery contact and cannot verify your identity, contact Apple Support, which may take a few hours to a day.

Will resetting my password sign me out of my devices?

No. Your devices stay signed in and continue working. You may be asked to enter your new password in Mail or other apps the next time you open them, but you will not be locked out of your phone or computer.

What if I do not remember my Apple ID email address?

Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter the phone number associated with your account instead. Apple will look up your Apple ID email and send you a reset code. If you do not remember the phone number either, contact Apple Support with proof of identity.

Can I reset my password without a trusted device or recovery contact?

You can try using security questions or the email address on file. If neither works, you will need to contact Apple Support and verify your identity using information from your account history, such as recent purchases or device details. This takes longer but is still possible.