How to Find Your Apple ID Password: 4 Tried and Tested Ways

I forgot my Apple ID password last week and was stuck at the login screen on my Mac. It was quite frustrating but with a little hit and trial, I discovered some easy methods to recover the Apple ID password without resetting my entire account. I’ll outline these methods below.

How to Find Your Apple ID Password Without Changing It

If you can’t remember your Apple ID password, there’s no guaranteed way to find it without changing it. Apple doesn’t provide a way to view your current password for security reasons. Most methods to retrieve a forgotten Apple ID password involve resetting it.

However, there are a few methods you can try:

1. Check Your Saved Passwords

If you save passwords to your device, you can try finding them via password settings. To find saved passwords on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can follow these steps depending on your device:

On a Mac

1. Open the Safari browser.
2. Click Safari in the menu bar and select Settings.

3. Go to the Passwords tab.

4. You’ll need to authenticate with your Mac user password.
5. Search for your Apple ID password in the list. It might be listed under appleid.apple.com or a similar entry.

On iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Passwords.
3. You’ll need to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.
4. Once in, search for any listings related to Apple ID or the specific website or service you need the password for.

2. Use a Password Manager

Using a password manager is a smart way to securely store and manage all your passwords, including your Apple ID password. If you use a third-party password manager, check if you’ve saved your Apple ID password there.

Here’s how to use a password manager:

1. Select a reputable password manager like LastPass, 1Password, Dashlane, or Bitwarden.
2. Download and install the app on your Mac via the App Store.
3. Create an account with the password manager. This typically involves setting up a master password that you should remember – it’s the key to accessing all your saved passwords.
4. Enter your passwords into the password manager, including your Apple ID password.
5. Use the password manager’s autofill feature to log into websites and apps.
6. Access your passwords from any device where the password manager is installed. Just log into the password manager and search for the password you need.

3. Check Other Devices

If you’ve another Apple device (like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac) where you’re already signed in, check there. While you won’t be able to view the password directly, being signed in means you can access your Apple account without needing to re-enter the password.

Similarly, if you’ve used a web browser on another device to access your Apple ID and saved the password, check the browser’s password manager. In the browser settings, look for a section labeled Passwords or Autofill to find saved login information.

Unfortunately, if none of these methods work, you’ll likely have to reset your password. After resetting your password, update it in settings on all your Apple devices.

How to Reset Your Apple ID Password: 5 Easy Ways

If you can’t find your Apple ID password, check out the following practical methods to reset it and log into your account. I tested all these steps on my MacBook Air M2, 2022, and used an iPhone X running on iOS 16 to perform the steps for a trusted Apple device.

1. Using Your Apple ID Account Page

Your account page is the easiest way to get back into your account if you can’t find your Apple ID password. Here’s how to use your Apple ID account page to reset your Apple ID password in a few clicks:

1. Go to the Apple ID account page and click Sign In.

2. Select Forgotten your Apple ID or password? below the empty Apple ID field.

3. A new tab will open. Here, enter your Apple ID email address, type the code you see in the image, and click Continue.

4. Enter the phone number associated with your Apple account and click Continue.

5. On your screen, you’ll see the following message:

6. Open the notification center on your Mac and click Show on the notification.

7. Click Reset Password on the prompt and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your Apple ID password.

8. If you cannot access your Mac, you can click Unable to access your Mac? on this screen.

9. It will take you to another screen with different options. Choose your desired option to reset your password, click Continue, and follow the prompts to reset your password.

I was able to reset my Apple ID password with this method but I tried a few other methods, too, that I found online. I’ve shared them below.

2. Answer the Security Questions

Answering security questions is a method Apple uses to verify your identity and help you regain access to your account. To use this option, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Apple ID account page and click Sign In.

2. Click Forgotten your Apple ID or password? below the empty Apple ID field.

3. Enter your Apple ID and you’ll be given options for resetting your password. Choose Answer security questions. This option is available if you set up security questions during your account creation.
4. You’ll first be asked to confirm your birthday. Enter the date you used when setting up your Apple ID.
5. Answer the security questions you set up previously. Answer these questions exactly as you did when you set them up, including any specific spellings or capitalizations.

6. If you successfully answer the questions, you’ll be given the option to reset your password. Choose a new, strong password that you haven’t used before.
7. After resetting your password, update it on all your devices where your Apple ID is used.

If you can’t remember the answers to your security questions, you might be given the option to try a different method, like email verification or two-factor authentication, if those are enabled on your account.

3. Using Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication secures your Apple ID by requiring a password and a 6-digit code when signing in on a new device, ensuring only trusted devices can access your account. If you have a trusted Apple device and know its screen passcode, you can easily find your Apple ID password using two-factor authentication.

Follow these steps:

1. On your trusted Apple device, go to Settings and click your Apple ID.

2. In Settings, click Password & Security.

3. Select Change Password from the options.

4. Enter the screen passcode on your iPhone or iPad.
5. Enter a new Apple ID password and re-enter it to confirm the changes.

Since I had two-factor authentication enabled on my devices, this method also worked for me.

4. Using iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain is a password manager for Apple devices that keeps all your passwords updated and in sync. It can auto-fill your login details, credit card info, and Wi-Fi passwords on approved devices. You can also use it to recover your Apple ID password.

Here’s how to find Apple ID password using iCloud Keychain:

1. Open Settings on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, and tap on your name.

2. Select iCloud.

3. Tap Passwords & Keychain.

4. Toggle on Sync this iPhone. Enter your iPhone passcode or Apple ID password if prompted.

5. Find your Apple ID password and tap on it to reveal the password.

Surprisingly, my Apple ID wasn’t saved to the iCloud Keychain, so this method didn’t really work for me.

5. Using a Recovery Key

The Recovery Key is a unique code linked to your device. This randomly generated code keeps your account secure from unauthorized access. It can also help you reset your Apple ID password if you’re locked out.

To use a Recovery Key to find your Apple ID password, just follow these easy steps:

On a Mac

1. Click the Apple icon and select System Settings.

2. Select Apple ID and click Password & Security.

3. Scroll down the right side and click Manage next to Account Recovery.

4. Click Manage next to Recovery Key: Off.

5. Tap the Turn On button at the top right of the pop-up.

6. Note your Recovery Key and store it somewhere secure.
7. Click Continue.
8. Next, verify your Recovery Key by entering it on the next screen.

On an iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone

1. Navigate to Settings and select your Apple ID.

2. Tap Password & Security in the Settings.

3. Select Account Recovery in Password & Security.

4. Tap the Recovery Key option in Account Recovery.

5. Toggle on the Recovery Key switch on the next screen.

6. Note your Recovery Key and store it somewhere secure.

Tips to Protect and Manage Your Apple ID Password

Your Apple ID password is crucial—it unlocks access to your personal data, Apple Pay, iCloud, and more. Now that you know how to retrieve it, let’s make sure you keep it safe.

Check out these tips to protect your Apple ID password on Mac:

1. 🔒 Create a Strong Password: A strong password is your first defense against prying eyes. I always use at least eight characters with a mix of upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Also, never use obvious choices like “password123” or your birthday – they’re the first guesses for any snoop!
2. 🔑 Enable Two-Factor Authentication: I can’t stress enough the importance of two-factor authentication (2FA). It adds an extra layer of security to your Apple ID by requiring a verification code in addition to your password to access your account.
3. 🙅‍♂️ Keep Your Password Secure: Never share your Apple ID password with anyone, and avoid using it on other websites or services.
4. 🔁 Change Your Password Regularly: Change your Apple ID password regularly to prevent unauthorized access to your account. I recommend setting a calendar reminder every six months to refresh your password.
5. 🕵️ Use Security Questions: Set up security questions and answers that only you know.
6. 🔍 Monitor Your Account Activity: Regularly check your Apple account activity to ensure no unauthorized logins or purchases. Report any suspicious activity to Apple immediately.
7. 🚫 Be Careful with Phishing Scams: Be aware of phishing scams, like the iforgot.apple phishing scam, that attempt to steal your Apple ID login credentials. Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails or messages, and never enter your Apple ID password on a website you don’t trust.
8. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Enable Family Sharing: With Family Sharing, you can share Apple services without passing around your password like a family dish. It’s a win-win for privacy and convenience.

Here’s how to set up Family Sharing:

1. Go to Settings on your device and tap on your name.

2. Select Family Sharing.

3. Click the Add Family Member button in the top right corner.

4. Follow the on-screen prompts to set up Family Sharing.

Keep Your Mac Protected 24/7 With MacKeeper

MacKeeper’s ID Theft Guard keeps your email safe and checks if your personal details, like passwords or payment info, end up on the dark web. It oversees multiple email accounts to identify any breaches and quickly notifies you if they happen.

Follow these simple steps to protect your personal information from leaking using ID Theft Guard:

1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. After installation, open MacKeeper and click ID Theft Guard in the Privacy section.

3. Click Open.

4. Enter your email address and press Start Scan.

5. If your email address is safe, you’ll see the No data breaches found notification. Click Continue.

6. Now, tap the Turn On Monitoring button in the bottom-right corner.

7. You will see the Data breach monitor is on notification at the top of the window. It will monitor your Mac in the background and instantly inform you in the event of a data breach or leak.

Never Lose Your Apple ID Password Again

Forgetting your Apple ID password can sabotage your digital life. Now that you know how to find your Apple ID password, you may want to enhance your data security. Here’s how you can do it:

• Encrypt your data with FileVault Disk encryption on Mac and protect it from prying eyes.
• MacBook password isn’t working? Learn how to fix this issue to avoid getting locked out of your Mac.
• Take your Mac security one step further by password-protecting folders and files on Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions