Change your password directly on any Apple device

You can change your Apple ID password on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch without needing a computer or visiting a website. The fastest route is through Settings on whichever device you use most often. Apple stores your new password across all your devices within minutes, so you only have to change it once.

On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Password & Security. You'll see "Change Password" as the first option. Tap it, enter your device passcode or Face ID, then type your current password once and your new password twice. Apple will check that your new password is strong enough — it needs to be at least eight characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your Apple ID name in the sidebar, then click Password & Security on the right. Click "Change Password", enter your Mac password, then follow the same steps as on iPhone. On Apple Watch, you can't change your password directly — you'll need to use the paired iPhone instead.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Apple ID password on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac by going to Settings, tapping your name, then selecting Password & Security.
  • Your new password must be at least eight characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol.
  • If you forget your current password, you'll need to use your recovery key, trusted phone number, or recovery email address to reset it instead.
  • After you change your password, sign out and back in on any devices where you want the change to take effect immediately, rather than waiting for automatic sync.
  • If you use two-factor authentication, you'll be asked to verify your identity with a code sent to a trusted device before the change goes through.

Change your password on the web if you don't have an Apple device nearby

If you're using a Windows computer or don't have immediate access to an Apple device, you can change your password through Apple's website. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID email address, then click Continue. Apple will ask you to verify your identity — you can choose to receive a code on a trusted phone number, use a recovery key, or answer security questions you set up previously.

Once you've verified, you'll be taken to your account page. Click "Change Password" in the Password & Security section, enter your current password, then type your new password twice. The same strength requirements apply: at least eight characters with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and a symbol.

What happens if you forget your current password

If you can't remember your current password, you can't change it — you'll need to reset it instead. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, then tap Password & Security. Tap "Change Password", and if you can't enter your current password, tap "Forgot password?" at the bottom of the screen. Apple will walk you through verifying your identity using your recovery key, a trusted phone number, or security questions.

On the web, go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID email. Apple will ask you to verify your identity the same way. After you've verified, you can create a new password without entering the old one. This process takes the same amount of time as a regular password change — usually a few minutes — but you'll be signed out of all your devices and will need to sign back in with your new password.

Two-factor authentication adds an extra step to password changes

If you have two-factor authentication turned on (which Apple recommends), you'll see an extra verification step when you change your password. After you enter your new password, Apple sends a code to one of your trusted devices — usually your iPhone or Mac. You'll need to enter that code to confirm the change is really you.

This means you can't change your password on a device that isn't trusted yet. If you're using a new computer or phone you just set up, you may need to change your password on a device Apple already knows is yours, or use the web method and have the code sent to your phone instead.

Sign out and back in on other devices to use your new password immediately

After you change your password, Apple automatically syncs it to all your devices within a few minutes. However, if you want to use your new password right away on a specific device, you can sign out and sign back in manually. This is especially useful if you're troubleshooting a problem or if you changed your password because you think someone else might know the old one.

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out". You'll be asked whether to keep or delete data from iCloud — choose based on what you need. Then sign back in with your Apple ID and your new password. On Mac, go to System Settings, click your Apple ID name, scroll down, and click "Sign Out". Follow the same steps to sign back in.

Recovery keys and trusted phone numbers protect you if you get locked out

When you change your password, Apple doesn't ask you to save a recovery key or update your trusted phone number — but you should check that both are current. A recovery key is a long code that lets you reset your password if you forget it and can't access your trusted devices. A trusted phone number is any phone where Apple can send a verification code.

To check your recovery key on iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password & Security, then look for "Recovery Key". If you don't have one, tap "Get a Recovery Key" and follow the steps. Write it down or store it somewhere safe — not in a note on your phone. To add or change a trusted phone number, go to the same Password & Security screen and tap "Trusted Phone Numbers". You can add any phone number where you can receive text messages or calls.

What to do if you think someone else knows your password

If you suspect someone has access to your Apple ID, change your password immediately, then review your account activity. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password & Security, then tap "Security Recommendations" to see if Apple has flagged any unusual activity. On the web, go to iforgot.apple.com, sign in, and look for security alerts in your account settings.

After you change your password, check which devices are signed into your Apple ID. On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then look at the list of devices at the top. On the web, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, and click "Devices" to see all devices connected to your account. If you see a device you don't recognize, tap it and select "Remove from Account". You may also want to change the password for any accounts that use your Apple ID for sign-in, such as apps or websites that let you "Sign in with Apple".

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Apple syncs your new password to all your devices within a few minutes, but it can take up to 15 minutes in some cases. If you need to use your new password on a specific device right away, sign out and sign back in manually rather than waiting for automatic sync.

Can I change my Apple ID password from my Apple Watch?

No, Apple Watch doesn't have a Password & Security settings option. You'll need to use your paired iPhone, iPad, or Mac instead. After you change your password on one of those devices, it syncs to your Apple Watch automatically.

What if I change my password but still can't sign in to my account?

Try signing out completely and signing back in with your new password. If you still can't sign in, make sure you're using the correct Apple ID email address — some people have multiple Apple IDs. If you're still stuck, go to iforgot.apple.com to verify your identity and reset your password again.

Do I need to change my password if I change my Apple ID email address?

No, changing your email address doesn't affect your password. Your password stays the same, but you'll use the new email address to sign in from that point forward. You can change your email address in Settings under your name, then Password & Security.

Will changing my Apple ID password sign me out of iCloud?

No, changing your password doesn't automatically sign you out of iCloud on any device. However, you may need to sign out and back in on some devices if they're having trouble syncing after the password change. This is optional — most devices update automatically within a few minutes.