Your Apple ID password is stored only by Apple, not anywhere you can look it up
If you remember your password, you do not need to find it anywhere — you already have it. If you have forgotten it, Apple does not show it to you. Instead, you reset it by proving you own the account, and Apple gives you a new one to create.
The difference matters because it changes what you actually do. A password you forgot is not sitting in a file somewhere waiting to be recovered. You are starting over with a new password, using Apple's verification process to prove the account is yours.
Key Takeaways
- Apple never shows you your password — if you forgot it, you must reset it by verifying your identity through a trusted phone number, recovery key, or trusted device.
- The fastest reset route is usually a trusted device you already own, because Apple can verify you without sending codes to other places.
- If you do not have access to any trusted device or phone number, you will need a recovery key — a long code Apple gave you when you first set up two-factor authentication.
- After you reset your password, you will need to sign back into apps and services that use your Apple ID, and some may ask for the new password before they work again.
How to reset your password on a device you already use
If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is already signed into your Apple ID, this is the fastest way. The device already knows it is yours, so Apple does not need to send you codes or ask extra questions.
On an iPhone or iPad: go to Settings, tap your name at the top, tap Password & Security, then tap Change Password. You will see your current password field is blank — type your new password twice and tap Change.
On a Mac: go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name on the left, click Password, then click Change Password. Again, the current password field is blank. Type your new password twice and click Change.
You will be asked to update your password on other devices and in other apps within a few days. Some apps will ask you to sign out and sign back in. This is normal and expected.
How to reset your password if you do not have a trusted device
A trusted device is one Apple already knows belongs to you — usually because you have been signed into your Apple ID on it for a while. If you do not have one, you can reset your password using a phone number or email address tied to your account.
Go to iforgot.apple.com in any web browser. Enter your Apple ID (usually your email address). Apple will ask you to verify your identity. You can choose to receive a code by text message to a phone number on your account, or by email to a recovery email address.
Enter the code when it arrives. Then create a new password — it must be at least eight characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Type it twice to confirm.
If you do not have access to the phone number or email address on your account, you cannot use this method. Move to the next section.
How to reset your password using a recovery key
A recovery key is a long string of characters — something like ABCD-EFGH-IJKL-MNOP-QRST-UVWX — that Apple gave you when you turned on two-factor authentication. If you saved it, you can use it to reset your password without needing a phone number or email.
Go to iforgot.apple.com. Enter your Apple ID. When asked how you want to verify, look for an option that says "Do not have access to your trusted phone number?" or similar. Tap or click that, and you will see an option to enter your recovery key.
Paste or type your recovery key exactly as it appears. Apple will verify it and let you create a new password. If you cannot find your recovery key, you will need to contact Apple Support, because there is no other way forward without it.
What happens after you reset your password
Once your new password is active, you are signed out of most places. Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac may stay signed in if you reset the password on that device itself, but apps and websites will usually ask you to sign back in.
Open the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, or any other Apple service and you will see a prompt to enter your Apple ID and new password. Sign in with your new password. Some apps may take a few minutes to recognize the change.
If you use your Apple ID to sign into apps from other companies — like Spotify or Medium — those apps will not be affected. Your Apple ID password only controls access to Apple's own services.
Where to find your recovery key if you saved it
If you created a recovery key when you set up two-factor authentication, you should have written it down or saved it in a password manager. Check anywhere you typically store important codes or documents.
If you saved it in Apple's own system, you can view it on any device signed into your Apple ID. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password & Security, then tap Recovery Key. On Mac, go to System Settings, click your name, click Password & Security, then click Recovery Key.
If you cannot find it and you cannot reset your password using a phone number or email, you will need to contact Apple Support. They can verify your identity through other means, though the process takes longer.
Why Apple does not show you your password
Your password is encrypted — scrambled in a way that even Apple's own staff cannot unscramble it. This is intentional. If Apple stored passwords in a way they could read, a data breach could expose millions of passwords at once. By making passwords unreadable even to Apple, they protect you if their systems are ever compromised.
This is why resetting is the only option. The password you create is new, and only you know it. Apple never sees the actual characters you type — they only see the encrypted version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my old password again after I reset it?
Yes, you can. After you reset and create a new password, you can change it again to something else, including a password you used before. Apple does not prevent you from reusing old passwords, though security experts recommend choosing something different each time.
What if I reset my password but I am still locked out of my account?
If you reset your password but cannot sign in, wait a few minutes — the change sometimes takes time to spread across Apple's servers. If you still cannot sign in after 15 minutes, try resetting your password again. If that does not work, contact Apple Support with proof of identity.
Do I need to change my password on every device, or does it update automatically?
Devices you own will eventually ask you to sign in again with your new password, but they do not update automatically. You will see a prompt within a few days. Apps may ask sooner. You can also manually sign out and sign back in to speed this up.
If I reset my password, will my photos or files be deleted?
No. Your password only controls access to your account. Resetting it does not touch any of your data — photos, files, messages, or anything else stay exactly where they are. You will just need to sign back in to see them on your devices.
What should I do if someone else knows my Apple ID password?
Reset your password when ready using one of the methods above. Then go to Settings (or System Settings), tap your name, tap Password & Security, and review which devices are signed in. If you see a device you do not recognize, tap it and select "Remove from Account." Consider turning on two-factor authentication if you have not already.