Forgot your Apple ID password? Here’s how to recover

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Many of the places we visit on the Internet require us to have credentials to enter them. And with so many passwords required, it’s normal to forget some of them. An Apple ID password, for example, is not something you focus on because you remain logged into your Apple account until you actively log out. Therefore, it is understandable that you forget which password is associated with your Apple account.

If you don’t remember your Apple ID password, you don’t need to worry. Here you will learn how to recover your Apple ID password and ultimately regain access to your account. So read on to find out more.

Forgot Apple ID Password Activation Lock

Activation Lock is a feature that turns on automatically when you turn on Find My on your Apple device. The only way to bypass the Activation Lock screen is by providing your Apple ID and password. In this section, we will show you how to recover your password. But first, here are some tips on how to recover your Apple ID, in case you’ve forgotten it:

• Check your Apple emails: As an Apple customer, you’ll likely receive frequent emails from the company, including billing information, policy updates, and marketing. Apple typically includes your Apple ID in all emails they send you. It usually contains the first characters of your email or phone followed by several asterisks (replacing letters, numbers, and other symbols in the actual ID), which should help you remember. Sometimes your Apple ID is not masked, making it even easier for you to identify it.
• Check other Apple devices you’re signed in on: If verification of your emails hasn’t been successful, check your Apple ID on other Apple devices you may have. Typically, the Apple ID is displayed in the profile section of your device.
• Check the Apple apps you’re signed in to: Apps like Facetime, Messages, and AppStore show your Apple ID in your profile whenever you’re signed in. So, go to one of those apps and retrieve your Apple ID from the profile. page.
• Visit the Apple ID page: If you still don’t remember the email address associated with your account, go to appleid.apple.com and scan it.

How to reset your Apple ID password

If you don’t remember your Apple ID password, there are several ways to reset it. The easiest way to reset your password is to use another Apple device that you’re signed in on, such as a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. These are the steps to follow on a Mac:

1. Go to your Mac and click on the Apple logo.
   
2. From the options, select “System Preferences.”
   
3. Click on your profile and tap Apple ID.
   

These are the steps to follow on an iPad or iPhone:

1. Open configuration.
   
2. Tap your profile.
   
3. Select “Password & Security.”
   
4. Tap “Change Password.”
   
5. Enter your access code.
   
6. Enter your new password and confirm it in the fields provided.
   

If you don’t have an Apple device that you’re already signed in to, Apple recommends borrowing an Apple device and using it to reset it. So, borrow an iPhone or iPad from a family member or friend and then follow these steps to recover your password:

1. Install the Apple Support app and open it.
   
2. Under themes, choose the “Password and security” option.
   
3. Go to “Reset Apple ID Password” and click “Start.”
   
4. Tap “Different Apple ID” and then “Continue.”
   
5. Enter your Apple ID and tap “Next.”
   
6. Enter your recovery contact number and select “Next.”
   
7. Press the “I can’t access your Apple device” button.
   
8. Enter the code sent to your phone and then continue to the next step.
   
9. Enter your phone passcode or password and set a new password for your account.
10. Confirm your new password to finish.

Once you have your Apple ID and password, enter them on the Activation Lock screen to unlock your device.

I forgot my Apple ID password and lost my phone

If you forgot your Apple ID passwords and lost your phone, then your best option is to use a friend’s phone to reset it. Once you have an iPhone or iPad, follow these steps to reset your Apple ID password:

1. On your friend’s phone, install the Apple Support app and open it.
   
2. Once you have opened the app, select the “Password & Security” option in the themes section.
   
3. Select “Reset Apple ID Password” and then tap “Get Started.”
   
4. Select “Different Apple ID” and tap “Continue.”
   
5. In the field provided, enter your Apple ID or the email address associated with your account and tap “Next.”
   
6. In the Phone Number section, enter your recovery phone number and tap “Next.”
   
7. On the next screen, select the “I can’t access your Apple device” option.
   
8. You should receive a code on your recovery contact number. Fill in the code in the field provided and continue to the next step.
   
9. Enter your phone’s passcode or password when prompted.
10. Now, set a new password for your Apple account and confirm it to finish.

Forgot Apple ID password on a Mac

Considering the number of passwords one must remember, it’s no surprise if you can’t remember your Mac’s Apple ID password. Fortunately, resetting an Apple ID password is relatively simple. These are the steps to follow:

1. On your Mac, click the Apple logo.
   
2. Go to “System Preferences.”
   
3. Select “Apple ID.”
   
4. In the right sidebar, open the “Password & Security” option.
   
5. Click “Change Password.”
   
6. Enter your Mac password.
   
7. Fill in your new Apple ID password in the pop-up widget and then confirm it.
   
8. Once you are done, press the “Change” button.
   

In case you have also forgotten your Apple ID, follow these steps to find it:

1. Launch your browser and go to “if i forgot.apple.com.”
   
2. Enter your first name, last name, and email address in the fields provided.
3. Complete the ReCaptcha and press the “Continue” button.
   
   • If a green alert does not appear after the previous steps, return to the second step and try again using a different email address.
   • If a match is found, you should see a check mark on your screen and your Apple ID. You should also have the option to return to your account.

How to reset your Apple ID password using iPhone

To reset your Apple ID password using an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
   
2. Tap your profile.
   
3. Open the “Password and Security” menu.
   
4. Tap “Change Password.”
   
5. Enter your phone password.
   
6. Set a new Apple ID password and enter it again to confirm it.
   

How to reset your Apple ID password using an iPad

Since an iPad is an Apple device, you can use it to reset your Apple ID password. Below is how to carry out the process.

1. Launch “Settings”.
   
2. Select your user profile.
   
3. From the options, select “Password and security.”
   
4. Select “Change Password.”
   
5. Enter a new password for your Apple ID and confirm it.
   

How to add a recovery contact on your iPhone or iPad

Setting up a recovery contact is a great way to make sure you always have access to your Apple account, no matter what. Here are the steps to add a recovery contact on your iPad or iPhone:

1. Go to your phone’s settings.
   
2. Tap your profile.
   
3. Select “Password & Security” and go to “Account and Recovery.”
   
4. Go to “Add recovery contact.”
   
5. Find the contact you want to add and tap “Add.”
   
6. Your friend should receive a message informing them that they have been added as your account recovery contact.

The above feature works strictly on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey and later. You also need two-factor authentication enabled on your device to access the “Account Recovery” feature.

Additional FAQs

How do I change the email address I use as my Apple ID?

If you want to change the email address you use as your Apple ID, follow these steps:

1. On your device, open the browser and go to the Apple ID page.

2. Sign in to your account using your current Apple account credentials.

3. Go to the “Sign in & Security” tab and click on the “Apple ID” section.

4. Enter the new email address.

5. Click the “Change Apple ID” button to finish.

What should I do if I forget my Apple ID phone number?

If you forgot your Apple ID phone number, follow these steps to recover it:

1. Sign out of all Apple devices that you’re currently signed in to with your Apple ID.

2. Go to your browser and open appleid.app.com.

3. Sign in to your account with your credentials.

4. Under “Sign in & security,” select Apple ID.

5. Specify the mobile number you want to use and press the “Change Apple ID” button.

6. You should receive a verification code from Apple on the phone number you just entered. Enter the code on the website to finish.

Losing your Apple ID password is not the end

It’s always good to remember login credentials for important accounts like Apple. However, as human beings, we are bound to forget it from time to time. Fortunately, Apple makes it very easy to recover your account password as long as you remember your phone number and Apple ID email address. Conveniently, if you have a lot of emails and are trying to figure out which one you used for your Apple account, you can look it up on their website.

Have you ever forgotten your Apple ID or password? What method did you use to recover it? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.