How to Change Your iCloud Password

Change your iCloud password from any device in minutes

You can change your iCloud password on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any web browser. The fastest route is usually your iPhone or iPad if you have one — the process takes about two minutes and you stay signed in the whole time. If you use a Mac, you can change it there too. On any device, you'll need to know your current password or have access to your recovery email or phone number.

The steps differ slightly depending on what device you're using, but the end result is the same: your new password takes effect immediately across all your Apple devices and services.

Key Takeaways

On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password and enter your current password before creating a new one.
On Mac, open System Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password and follow the same process.
On any web browser, visit iforgot.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and select Change Password from the account options.
Your new password must be at least 8 characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
After you change your password, you'll be signed out of some devices and will need to sign back in with your new password.

Change your password on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap Password & Security, then tap Change Password. You'll see a field asking for your current password — type it in. Apple will verify it, then show you two fields for your new password.

Type your new password in both fields. It must be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol (like ! or @). Tap Change in the top right corner. Your password updates immediately, and you stay signed into your device.

Change your password on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click your name in the sidebar (it appears near the top), then click Password & Security. Click the lock icon in the bottom left to unlock this section — you'll need to enter your Mac password.

Click Change Password. Type your current iCloud password in the first field, then type your new password in the next two fields. Your new password must be at least 8 characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Click Change Password to save it.

Change your password in a web browser

Go to iforgot.apple.com in any web browser. Enter your Apple ID (usually your email address) and click Continue. Apple will ask you to verify your identity — you can choose to receive a code by email or text message to a phone number on your account. Enter that code when it arrives.

Once you're verified, click Change Password. Type your new password twice and make sure it meets the requirements: at least 8 characters with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a symbol. Click Change Password to finish. You'll be signed out of the website and will need to sign back in with your new password.

What happens after you change your password

Your new password takes effect immediately on the device where you changed it. On other devices — your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch — you'll be signed out within a few minutes. When you try to use iCloud services on those devices, you'll see a prompt asking you to sign back in. Enter your Apple ID and your new password.

This sign-out is a security feature. It prevents someone who knows your old password from accessing your account on devices they might have access to. If you have a lot of devices, the sign-out process can take up to 24 hours to complete across all of them, but most devices update within a few minutes.

If you forget your current password

You don't need to know your current password to change it — you can use your recovery email or phone number instead. Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter your Apple ID. When asked to verify your identity, choose Get an email or Get a text message instead of entering your current password. Apple will send you a verification code to the email address or phone number on file.

Enter that code, and you'll be able to set a new password without knowing the old one. This is the same process you'd use if you forgot your password entirely.

Create a strong new password

Apple requires all iCloud passwords to be at least 8 characters long and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and at least one symbol. A strong password is one that's hard to guess — avoid using your name, birthdate, or common words. Instead, try mixing unrelated words with numbers and symbols, or use a random combination of characters.

If you use a password manager like iCloud Keychain, 1Password, or Bitwarden, you can generate a random password and store it there. Your password manager will fill it in automatically when you need to sign in, so you don't have to remember it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my iCloud password affect my other Apple services?

Yes. Your iCloud password is your Apple ID password, which controls access to iCloud, the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and any other Apple service linked to your account. When you change it, you'll need to sign back in to all of these services on your other devices.

Can I change my password if I don't have access to my recovery email or phone number?

If you can't receive a verification code on your recovery email or phone, you can answer your security questions instead. Go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID, and when asked to verify, select the option to answer your security questions. You'll need to answer at least two of them correctly.

How often should I change my iCloud password?

There's no set rule, but security experts generally suggest changing your password if you think someone else might know it, if you've used it on a website that was hacked, or if you haven't changed it in over a year. If you use a unique, strong password and keep it private, you don't need to change it frequently.

What if I change my password and then can't sign back into my devices?

Make sure you're typing your new password correctly — passwords are case-sensitive, so uppercase and lowercase letters matter. If you're still stuck, go to iforgot.apple.com and verify your identity again to make sure your password was saved. If you still can't sign in, you may need to reset your Apple ID password using your recovery email or phone number.

Can I use the same password I used before?

Apple's system won't let you reuse a password you've used recently on your account. If you try to set a password you've used in the past year or so, you'll see an error message asking you to choose a different one.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.