How to Reset a Forgotten Apple ID Password on iPad

To reset a forgotten Apple ID password on an iPad, open Settings, tap your name or Apple Account banner, then choose Sign-In & Security > Change Password and enter the iPad passcode. This works when the iPad is already signed in to the account and connected to the internet. If that option is unavailable, use Apple’s account recovery process at iforgot.apple.com or another trusted Apple device. Apple now calls an Apple ID an Apple Account, but the account and its services are the same.

Can you reset the password directly on the iPad?

Use the Settings method if the iPad is already signed in to the Apple ID or Apple Account whose password you forgot. You must know the iPad’s device passcode, and the iPad must be connected to the internet.

Before starting, check that you have:

• The iPad passcode used to unlock the device.
• Access to the iPad and an internet connection.
• The account already shown at the top of Settings.
• Access to a trusted phone number or another trusted Apple device if Apple asks for extra verification.

Open Settings and look at the name and account information at the top. If your name or account is not shown, the iPad may not be signed in to the account you are trying to recover. Use Apple’s recovery website or another trusted device instead.

Apple ID and Apple Account refer to the same account. Apple changed the name to Apple Account, so newer iPad software may show Apple Account where older instructions say Apple ID.

Reset the forgotten Apple ID password from Settings

When the iPad is trusted, change the password from the account settings instead of repeatedly trying passwords at a sign-in screen.

1. Open Settings on the iPad.
2. Tap your name or Apple Account banner at the top of the Settings screen. If you see a prompt to sign in instead, the iPad is not currently signed in to the account through Settings.
3. Tap Sign-In & Security.
4. Tap Change Password.
5. Enter the iPad passcode when prompted. This verifies that you are authorized to change the account password from the trusted device.
6. Enter a new password in both password fields, then follow the on-screen instructions to confirm it.
7. Read any prompt about signing out other devices or reviewing account security, then confirm only after you understand what it will do.

The new password replaces the old one for iCloud, the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, and other Apple services that use this account. Some services may still ask for the new password once, especially if they were signed out during the change.

Do not keep guessing passwords at a sign-in screen. Repeated incorrect attempts can trigger security delays or account restrictions, making recovery slower.

What to do when the iPad will not let you change it

If Change Password is missing or unavailable, or the iPad is not signed in to the account, use Apple’s account recovery tools.

1. Open Safari on the iPad and go to iforgot.apple.com.
2. Enter the email address or phone number associated with the Apple Account.
3. Follow Apple’s prompts to verify your identity. If the account qualifies for an immediate reset, Apple will let you create a new password.
4. Enter the verification code Apple sends to a trusted phone number or displays on another trusted Apple device when prompted.
5. Set and confirm the new password, then return to the iPad and sign in when Apple services request it.

A trusted phone number is a number Apple has recorded for account security. It may receive a text message or automated call containing a verification code. A trusted Apple device, such as an iPhone or Mac already signed in to the same account, may display the code or provide its own password-change option.

If you cannot use the trusted phone number or any trusted device, choose the recovery option offered on Apple’s website. Apple may ask for additional information and place the account into account recovery. This process can take time because Apple must verify that you are the account owner. Apple controls the waiting period, and repeatedly trying the process may not shorten it.

If you start account recovery, keep using the same recovery contact information and follow the status instructions Apple provides. Starting over with different details can delay the process. Do not give a verification code or password to anyone who contacts you claiming they can recover the account.

How to confirm the reset worked everywhere

After changing the password, return to the iPad and check each Apple service. Some prompts will not appear until you open the service.

1. Open Settings and check the account banner at the top. If it shows a sign-in prompt, tap it and enter the Apple Account email address or phone number and the new password. The account banner should return without a sign-in request.
2. Open Settings, tap your name, and check iCloud. Confirm that your expected iCloud services are listed and are not waiting for authentication.
3. Open the App Store and tap your account picture. Try viewing your account or downloading an app you already use. Enter the new password if the App Store asks for it.
4. Open Messages and send a message using the account’s configured iMessage address. Then open FaceTime and confirm that the expected phone numbers or email addresses are available.
5. Open the Passwords app, or go to Settings and open Passwords on older iPad software. Unlock it with the iPad passcode and confirm that your saved passwords are still accessible.
6. Check other services you use, such as Find My, Apple Music, or Apple TV, and sign in with the new password if prompted.

If an old-password prompt remains, close the affected app and open it again before entering anything. A prompt that names a different Apple Account may belong to an app or purchase made with another account; changing the password for your current account will not change that separate account.

Does resetting the password remove Activation Lock?

No. Resetting the Apple Account password restores access to the account and its services, but it does not remove Activation Lock from an iPad linked to that account.

Activation Lock is part of Find My. It is designed to prevent someone else from setting up or using a lost or stolen iPad. If the iPad displays an Activation Lock screen, enter the Apple Account credentials associated with that device, or have the previous owner remove the iPad from their account.

If you own the iPad but forgot the password, reset it first through Settings or iforgot.apple.com. Then use the recovered account to complete setup or remove the device from the account when appropriate. Apple Support cannot bypass ownership requirements. Proof of purchase may be relevant to a support request, but it does not guarantee that Activation Lock can be removed.

Conclusion

Start with Settings if the iPad shows your account and you know its passcode. If that option is unavailable, use iforgot.apple.com, keep access to your trusted phone number or recovery contact, and follow Apple’s account-recovery instructions instead of guessing passwords. After the reset, sign in again and verify iCloud, the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, saved passwords, and any other services you use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset my Apple Account password without knowing the old password?

Yes. You can verify ownership through a trusted iPad, another trusted Apple device, a trusted phone number, or Apple’s account-recovery process. A trusted iPad normally asks for the device passcode instead of the old account password.

What if I forgot both my Apple Account password and my iPad passcode?

The direct Settings method will not work because it requires the iPad passcode. Use Apple’s account recovery process for the account, and follow Apple’s separate passcode-recovery or device-erasure instructions for the iPad. Erasing an iPad can remove its local data, so do not choose that option unless you understand the consequences and have a backup when possible.