Change your iCloud password directly from your iPhone's settings

You can change your iCloud password on your iPhone without a computer. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Password & Security. Select Change Password, enter your current password when prompted, then type your new password twice. Your iPhone will confirm the change when ready, and you'll be signed out of iCloud on all your devices — you'll need to sign back in with the new password.

The process takes about two minutes. Apple requires your new password to be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. If you forget what you just entered, you can start over by tapping the X next to any field.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your iCloud password in Settings under your name, then Password & Security, then Change Password.
  • Your new password must contain uppercase and lowercase letters, at least one number, and at least one symbol.
  • After you change your password, you will be signed out of iCloud on all your devices and must sign back in.
  • If you do not remember your current password, use Forgot Password on the sign-in screen instead of the Settings method.
  • Two-factor authentication must be turned on before you can change your password through Settings.

What happens after you change your password

When you change your iCloud password, Apple signs you out of iCloud on every device linked to that account — your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and any others. This is a security measure. You will see a notification on each device asking you to sign back in with your new password.

Sign back in on each device as soon as you can. Until you do, those devices cannot access iCloud services like Mail, Photos, Find My, or iCloud Drive. If you have a Mac, you may also be asked to update your keychain password to match your new iCloud password — follow the prompts on screen.

If you forgot your current password

If you do not remember your current iCloud password, you cannot use the Settings method. Instead, go to the iPhone sign-in screen, tap Forgot Password, and follow Apple's recovery steps. You will need to verify your identity using a recovery key, a trusted device, or a recovery contact — whichever method you set up when you created your account.

If you do not have access to any of those recovery methods, you will need to use a computer to visit iforgot.apple.com or contact Apple Support. They can help you regain access to your account, but the process takes longer than changing a password you remember.

Why your password keeps failing

The most common reason a new password is rejected is that it does not meet Apple's requirements. Your password must have at least eight characters and include all four of these: an uppercase letter (A–Z), a lowercase letter (a–z), a number (0–9), and a symbol (!@#$%^&*). If you see an error, check that your password contains all four types.

Another reason is that you entered your current password incorrectly when prompted. Apple asks for your current password first as a security check. If you see an error at that step, tap the back arrow and try again. You have three attempts before the system locks you out temporarily.

Two-factor authentication must be on

You cannot change your iCloud password through Settings unless two-factor authentication is turned on for your account. Two-factor authentication is a security feature that requires you to verify your identity on a trusted device when you sign in from somewhere new.

If you have not turned on two-factor authentication, you will see a message saying so when you tap Change Password. To turn it on, go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password & Security, then tap Two-Factor Authentication and follow the prompts. After it is on, you can change your password using the method described at the top of this guide.

Signing back in on your other devices

After you change your password, each of your devices will show a notification asking you to sign back in. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password & Security, then tap Change Password and enter your new password. On a Mac, go to System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, click Password & Security, then click Change Password.

On an Apple Watch, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Privacy, and sign out. Then open the Watch app again, go to iCloud, and sign back in with your new password. If you have an Apple TV, go to Settings, select Users and Accounts, select your account, and sign out, then sign back in with the new password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iCloud password affect my Apple ID password?

Your iCloud password and Apple ID password are the same thing. When you change one, you change both. You use this password to sign in to iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, and any other Apple service.

Can I change my iCloud password if I do not have two-factor authentication on?

No. Apple requires two-factor authentication to be on before you can change your password through Settings. If you do not have it on, you can turn it on in Settings under your name, then Password & Security, then Two-Factor Authentication. After that, you can change your password.

How long does it take for the password change to work on all my devices?

The change takes effect when ready on the device where you made it. On your other devices, you will see a sign-in prompt within a few minutes. If a device does not prompt you within an hour, restart it and try signing in manually.

What if I change my password but forget the new one right away?

Go to the sign-in screen on any device, tap Forgot Password, and use your recovery key or trusted device to verify your identity. Then you can set a new password. This is faster than contacting Apple Support.