Apple ID recovery starts on a device that is already signed in to your account. On an iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Sign-In & Security, then Change Password, and enter your device passcode. No trusted device? Use iforgot.apple.com or the Apple Support app on a borrowed iPhone. Resetting your password does not erase your iCloud data.
One naming note first. Apple ID is now called Apple Account. Your email address, phone number and password stay the same, so every step below still applies.
Route one: reset your Apple ID password on a trusted device
A trusted device is an iPhone, iPad or Mac already signed in to your account with a passcode set. Apple calls this the easiest way back in.
On a Mac, open System Settings from the Apple menu, click your name, then Sign-In & Security, then Change Password. You will need your Mac login password.
If Stolen Device Protection is on and you are away from a familiar location, Apple may make you wait one hour before the change goes through. That delay is deliberate.
Video: Apple Support
Route two: no trusted device, but you still have your phone number
Borrow an iPhone or iPad from family, or use one at an Apple Store. Open the Apple Support app, scroll to Support Tools, tap Reset Password, then Help Someone Else.
The web route at iforgot.apple.com works too, though Apple warns it can take longer. If your own device is back tomorrow, wait for it.
Route three: two-factor account recovery when every other route fails
Account recovery is the last resort for two-factor accounts where you cannot sign in or reset the password. Start it from Settings on your device or at iforgot.apple.com, then turn off every other device signed in to that account. If the account is used during the waiting period, Apple cancels the request automatically.
This is where most people lose days. They start recovery, then open their iPad out of habit, and the clock resets.
| Stage | What you need | Timing Apple states | If two-factor is lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trusted device reset | Signed-in device plus its passcode | Immediate, or a one-hour Stolen Device Protection delay | Not needed, the device is the second factor |
| Borrowed device or web reset | Account email or phone number, trusted phone number | Web “might take a little longer” | Without the trusted number, move to account recovery |
| Account recovery request | Account email or phone number, all other devices off | Confirmation email within 72 hours | This is the route built for it |
| Waiting period ends | Access to the trusted number for a text or call | “Several days or longer” | Go to iforgot.apple.com after the stated date |
| Recovery key account | 28-character key, trusted number, an Apple device | No standard waiting period applies | Lose the key and Apple says you can be locked out permanently |
Source: Apple Support UK articles 102656, 118574 and 109345, checked September 2026.
Keeping your data when you get back in
A password reset leaves your iCloud photos and backups in place. The exception is Advanced Data Protection. With it switched on, your encrypted data needs a recovery contact, a recovery key or a device passcode, because Apple does not hold the keys.
Set up a recovery contact now, before you need one. You can add up to five, and they get no access to your account, only the ability to give you a code. Pair that with a strong password you can actually remember and you will rarely need any of this.
How to spot a fake Apple ID reset text
Scammers send texts saying your Apple ID is locked, with a link to “verify”. Apple states it never asks for your password or verification codes to provide support. A real reset only ever happens in Settings or at iforgot.apple.com, which you type in yourself.
If you get one, screenshot it and email it to [email protected]. If you already typed your password into the fake page, change it at once and confirm two-factor is on. Guessing is getting cheaper, as our piece on how AI cracks passwords shows, so add one of the best two-factor authentication apps to your other accounts.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Apple ID password?
You cannot view your Apple Account password anywhere. Apple only lets you reset it, through a trusted device, the Apple Support app or iforgot.apple.com.
How long does Apple account recovery take?
Apple sends a confirmation email within 72 hours and says regaining access may take several days or longer. Nobody at Apple Support can speed it up.
Will resetting my Apple ID delete my photos?
No. A reset changes the password only. With Advanced Data Protection on, you need a recovery contact, recovery key or device passcode to open your encrypted data.
