You cannot see your actual Apple ID password anywhere — Apple does not store it where you can view it
Apple keeps your password encrypted and does not display it back to you for security reasons. If you need to know whether you are using the right password, the only real test is to sign out and sign back in, or to try signing into a different Apple device. If you cannot remember your password at all, you will need to reset it instead of checking it.
This design protects you: if someone gains access to your account settings, they cannot straightforward read your password and use it elsewhere. The trade-off is that you have to reset rather than retrieve if you forget.
Key Takeaways
- Apple does not show you your password anywhere in your account settings, on any device, or on the web.
- You can test whether you remember your password correctly by signing out and signing back in on any Apple device.
- If you cannot remember your password, use the password reset flow on the Apple ID website or during sign-in on any device.
- If you have a recovery key or trusted phone number set up, password reset takes minutes; without them, it takes longer.
How to test your password by signing out and back in
The simplest way to confirm you know your password is to sign out of your Apple ID on any device, then sign back in. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. You will be asked to enter your password. If it works, you know the password is correct. If it does not, you will see an error message and can move to resetting instead.
On a Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name in the sidebar, scroll down, and click Sign Out. You will be prompted for your password. On a Windows PC with iCloud, open iCloud settings, click Account Details, and sign out from there. The same test applies: if the password works, you are done; if not, you need to reset.
This method works because Apple requires your real password to sign out — it will not accept a wrong one. You do not have to complete the sign-out; you can cancel after entering the password and confirming it works.
How to reset your password if you do not remember it
Go to iforgot.apple.com in any web browser and enter your Apple ID email address. Apple will show you two options: reset using your trusted phone number, or reset using your recovery key. If you have set up a trusted phone number (a number Apple can text or call), choose that option — it is the fastest route and usually takes just a few minutes.
Apple will send a code to that phone number. Enter the code on the website, then create a new password. You can then sign into your devices with the new password. If you do not have a trusted phone number set up, you can use a recovery key if you saved one when you first created your Apple ID. If you have neither, the process takes longer and may require you to answer security questions or wait for Apple to verify your identity.
You can also reset your password during sign-in on any device. When you try to sign in with your Apple ID, tap "Forgot password?" or "Forgot Apple ID or password?" and follow the same reset flow.
Where to find your password if you saved it in your browser or device
If you have signed into your Apple ID on your iPhone or Mac before, your device may have saved the password. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Passwords (or Passwords and Accounts on older versions), search for your Apple ID email, and tap it. You will see the password in plain text if you authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID. On a Mac, open System Settings, go to Passwords, search for your Apple ID, and double-click it to reveal the password.
On Windows, open iCloud settings, click Account Details, and look for a "Show Password" option next to your Apple ID. In any web browser, you can also check your saved passwords: in Chrome, go to Settings > Passwords and search for "apple.com"; in Safari, go to Preferences > Passwords and search the same way. Your browser will show you the password if you authenticate.
This only works if you actually saved the password in that location. If you never saved it or cleared your saved passwords, it will not appear.
What to do if you cannot reset your password
If you do not have access to your trusted phone number and did not save a recovery key, password reset becomes more difficult. Apple will ask you to verify your identity using security questions you answered when you created your account, or by providing information about your recent Apple purchases. This process can take several days.
If you have access to a device that is already signed into your Apple ID, you can change your password without resetting it. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password. On a Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password. You will need to enter your current password once, then create a new one. This is much faster than a full reset and works even if you have forgotten your password, as long as you can authenticate on the device itself using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
How to set up a recovery key so you never get stuck
A recovery key is a long code that Apple generates for you and stores nowhere else — only you have it. If you save it somewhere safe, you can use it to reset your password even if you lose access to your phone number. Go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click Password & Security, and look for Recovery Key. Click Create a Recovery Key, authenticate, and Apple will generate a 28-character code. Write it down or save it in a password manager, then store it somewhere you will not lose it.
If you ever need to reset your password and do not have your phone, you can go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID, and choose "I don't have access to my trusted phone number." Apple will ask for your recovery key instead. Enter it, and you can reset your password when ready without waiting for verification.
Why Apple does not let you see your password
Passwords are stored using encryption, which means Apple scrambles them into a form that cannot be read, even by Apple employees. This protects you if someone breaks into Apple's servers — they would get scrambled passwords, not real ones. It also means that if someone gains access to your account settings, they cannot straightforward look up your password and use it on Gmail, your bank, or anywhere else you might have reused it.
The downside is that you cannot retrieve a forgotten password the way you can with many other services. You have to reset it, which means creating a new one. This is why setting up a recovery key and a trusted phone number is worth doing now, before you need it — it makes the reset process much faster if you ever forget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my Apple ID password in iCloud settings?
No. iCloud settings show you your Apple ID email and security settings, but not your password. The only places a password might be visible are in your device's saved passwords (Settings > Passwords on iPhone, or System Settings > Passwords on Mac) or in your web browser's password manager.
What if I forgot my password and do not have a trusted phone number?
You can use a recovery key if you created one. If you did not, Apple will ask you to verify your identity using security questions or purchase history, which takes longer. You can also change your password on any device you are already signed into, using your device passcode or biometric authentication instead of your Apple password.
Is it safe to save my Apple ID password in my browser?
It is safer than writing it on paper or sharing it, but less find than memorizing it or using a dedicated password manager. If someone gains access to your computer, they can see saved passwords. A password manager encrypts passwords and is a better choice if you cannot memorize it.
Can I change my password without resetting it?
Yes, if you are already signed into an Apple device. Go to Settings or System Settings, find Password & Security under your name, and tap Change Password. You will need to authenticate with your device passcode or biometric, but not your Apple ID password. This is faster than a full reset.
What should I do with my recovery key once I create it?
Write it down and store it in a safe place — a safe, a locked drawer, or a password manager. Do not email it to yourself or store it in a cloud service. The whole point is that only you have it. If you lose it, you can create a new one anytime by going back to appleid.apple.com.