You cannot retrieve your actual 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 tell you what it is. This is intentional security: if Apple kept your password readable, a data breach could expose it. Instead, you reset your password through Apple's account recovery system, which verifies your identity and lets you create a new one.

The reset process takes about five minutes on any device with internet access. You will need either a recovery key you saved earlier, a trusted phone number linked to your account, or access to a recovery email address. If you have none of these, the process takes longer but is still possible.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple cannot show you your password because it does not store it in readable form — you must reset it instead.
  • The fastest reset uses a recovery key, a trusted phone number, or a recovery email address you set up before you forgot your password.
  • If you have none of those, you can still reset your password by answering security questions or waiting for Apple to verify your identity through your device history.
  • After you reset your password, update it in iCloud settings on every device so you do not get locked out again.

Reset your password using a recovery key

A recovery key is a 28-character code Apple gives you when you turn on two-factor authentication. If you saved it, this is the fastest reset method. Go to iforgot.apple.com on any web browser, enter your Apple ID email address, and select "I don't have my password" when prompted.

Apple will ask how you want to verify your identity. Choose "Use my recovery key" and type the 28-character code into the box. Apple will then let you create a new password when ready. Write down or save your new password somewhere you can find it later — a password manager, a locked notes app, or a physical notebook in a safe place.

If you cannot find your recovery key, move to the next method. Do not guess or make up a code; Apple will reject invalid keys and you will need to use a different verification method.

Reset your password using a trusted phone number

When you set up two-factor authentication on your Apple ID, you chose at least one trusted phone number — usually your iPhone, but it could also be a Mac, iPad, or another phone. If you still have access to that phone, this method works quickly.

Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and select "I don't have my password." Choose "I don't have my recovery key" and then select "Verify with a trusted phone number." Apple will send a six-digit code to the phone number on file. Open that text message or notification, read the code, and enter it on the website. You can then create a new password.

This method only works if you can receive messages or notifications on the phone number you registered. If that phone is lost, broken, or no longer active, you will need to use a different method.

Reset your password using a recovery email address

During Apple ID setup, you provided a recovery email address separate from your main Apple ID email. If you remember that address and can still access it, Apple can send you a password reset link there.

Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and select "I don't have my password." Choose "I don't have my recovery key," then select "Verify with your recovery email address." Apple will send a reset link to the recovery email you provided years ago. Check that email inbox (and spam folder), click the link, and create a new password.

If you cannot remember your recovery email address or no longer have access to it, you will need to answer security questions or contact Apple Support for identity verification through your device history.

Reset your password by answering security questions

If you do not have a recovery key, cannot access a trusted phone, and do not remember your recovery email, Apple will let you reset your password by answering the security questions you created when you set up your Apple ID.

Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email, and select "I don't have my password." Choose "I don't have my recovery key" and "I can't use my recovery email." Apple will ask you to answer two of the three security questions you set up. Answer them exactly as you did originally — capitalization and spelling matter. If you answer both correctly, you can create a new password when ready.

If you cannot remember your answers, or if you answer incorrectly twice, Apple will lock you out of this method for 24 hours. You can try again the next day, or you can contact Apple Support to verify your identity a different way.

Reset your password through Apple Support if you are completely locked out

If you have no recovery key, cannot access any trusted phone or recovery email, and do not remember your security question answers, you can still reset your password — but it requires talking to Apple Support and proving your identity.

Go to support.apple.com, search for "reset password," and select "Get support." Choose your device type and then select "Account and Sign In." Tap "Contact Apple Support" and choose phone, chat, or email. Tell the representative that you cannot remember your password and have no way to verify your identity through the automated system.

Apple will ask for information only you would know: the original email address you used to create your Apple ID, the date you created it, devices you have registered to that ID, and recent purchases. This process usually takes one to three business days. Apple may also ask you to provide a photo of your ID to confirm you are the account owner.

Update your password on all your devices after you reset it

Once you have created a new password, sign out of your Apple ID on every device and sign back in with the new password. This prevents you from getting locked out again when your devices try to use the old password.

On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, select "Password & Security," and tap "Change Password." On a Mac, go to System Settings, click your name, select "Password & Security," and click "Change Password." On a Windows PC with iCloud installed, open iCloud, click "Account Details," select "Security," and click "Change Password."

After you update your password everywhere, set up a recovery key if you have not already. Go to your Apple ID account page at appleid.apple.com, sign in, select "Security," and look for "Recovery Key." Apple will generate a 28-character code — save it in a password manager, a locked notes app, or write it down and store it somewhere safe. This key will make any future password reset much faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Apple tell me what my password is?

No. Apple stores passwords in encrypted form and cannot read them back. This protects you: if Apple's systems were breached, your password would still be unreadable to the attacker. You must reset your password instead, which takes five minutes to a few days depending on which verification method you use.

What if I forgot my Apple ID email address too?

Go to iforgot.apple.com and select "Forgot your Apple ID?" instead of "I don't have my password." Apple will ask you to enter your first name, last name, and an email address you used with Apple. If you remember any email you ever used — even an old one — enter it and Apple will show you which one is your current Apple ID.

How long does it take to reset my password?

If you have a recovery key or access to a trusted phone, you can reset your password in five minutes. If you use a recovery email or security questions, it takes about the same time. If you need Apple Support to verify your identity, allow one to three business days. During this time, you cannot use your Apple ID to sign into new devices, but existing devices will continue to work.

Will resetting my password erase my data?

No. Resetting your password only changes how you sign in. Your photos, emails, documents, and other data stay on your devices and in iCloud. You will need to sign in again with your new password on devices where you are signed out, but your data will not be deleted.

What should I do to avoid forgetting my password again?

Save your recovery key in a password manager like iCloud Keychain, 1Password, or Bitwarden — somewhere you can find it if you need it. Make your Apple ID password something you can remember, or store it in your password manager. Turn on two-factor authentication if you have not already, because it makes your account much harder to break into even if someone learns your password.