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Don’t remember your password? Resetting it isn’t your only option
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If you’ve forgotten your Apple ID password, you’d probably rather find the old one than go through the hassle of resetting it. Fortunately, you have a few different options. In this article, we’ll explain the easiest methods for finding your lost password—and what to do if none of them work.

The Best Ways to Uncover a Forgotten Apple ID Password

  • If you’ve saved your Apple ID password to a keychain on your Mac or other Apple device, you can find it in System Settings (or just Settings) > Passwords.
  • You might have saved your Apple ID password in one of the browsers on your computer or in a third-party password manager.
  • Do you tend to reuse passwords? Try some of your commonly used ones, but be aware that too many wrong guesses will lock your account.
Section 1 of 6:

Checking Your Password Keychains

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  1. Apple allows you to save your passwords on your device so you can easily retrieve them in case you forget. If you’ve saved your Apple ID password to a keychain, you can view it in your System Settings. The same passwords will be saved across multiple devices if you have iCloud set up to sync them. Here’s how to find them:
  2. You can also view your stored passwords on your mobile device. To do it:[1]
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  3. Launch Safari on your Mac. Click the Safari menu at the top of the screen and select Settings (or Preferences, depending on your version of macOS). From there:[2]
    • Click the Passwords tab at the top of the settings window. Sign in with your Touch ID or the administrator password for your computer.
    • Scroll down and find a website where you use your Apple ID to log in, such as iCloud or Apple.com.
    • Click the i next to the website to view the password.
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Section 2 of 6:

Finding Stored Passwords in Your Browser

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  1. If you haven’t saved your Apple ID in a keychain on your Mac or another Apple device, you might have saved it in one of your browsers. Open your preferred browser, such as Chrome or Firefox, to see if you can locate it. We’ll cover Chrome and Firefox here, but the instructions will be similar for most browsers.
  2. To view saved passwords in Chrome, click your profile picture or icon in the top right corner of the browser window, then click the key symbol. This will open the Google Password Manager. From there:[3]
    • Scroll through the list of websites until you find one that uses your Apple ID, or use the search field at the top of the page.
    • Click the website you want to view, then use Touch ID or enter the password for your computer when prompted.
    • Click the eye symbol next to the password field to view it. If you want to copy the password, click the copy button (which looks like two overlapping sheets of paper) next to the eye button.
  3. If you’re using Firefox, launch the browser and click on the top right side of your browser window. Then:
    • Click Passwords in the dropdown menu.
    • Scroll through the list of passwords in the left menu pane, or use the search feature to find a website where you use your Apple ID. Click the website you want to view.
    • Click the eye icon next to the Password field to reveal your password, then click Copy to save it to your clipboard.
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Section 3 of 6:

Looking in Your Password Manager

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  1. If you have a third-party password manager, check it to see if you’ve saved your Apple ID password there. Look in the vault for any websites or apps where you use your Apple ID and password to log in.
    • Every password manager works a little differently, but the basic idea is the same. You’ll probably need to enter a master password to access your stored passwords, then search or browse for your Apple ID.
    • If the password is hidden, you can usually click a button to reveal or copy it.
Section 4 of 6:

Trying Commonly Reused Passwords

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  1. Tech security experts don’t recommend using the same passwords for multiple accounts, since it makes your information more vulnerable to hackers. But if you do tend to reuse passwords, it’s possible that you used one of your standard choices when you set up your Apple ID.
    • Just be careful using this approach—if you enter the wrong password too many times, your account will be locked. At that point, you’ll have to reset your password.[4]
    • If you can’t remember your frequently reused passwords, most password managers (including the ones in Firefox, Chrome, and your Mac or iPhone/iPad’s settings) include a section with security recommendations that may show you your reused passwords.
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Section 5 of 6:

Using Third-Party Software

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  1. There are several apps on the market that claim they can help you recover your lost Apple ID password. However, always be careful using these types of apps, since they could compromise your security or cause you to lose data on your device.
    • Always look up reviews by people who have used the software and read the fine print in the developer documentation before trying one of these apps.
    • If you use an app that involves jailbreaking your Apple device, the device may no longer qualify for AppleCare services.
Section 6 of 6:

Resetting Your Password

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  1. If you haven’t saved your Apple ID password anywhere and you’re unable to guess it, don’t worry. You can easily reset it. There are several ways to do this:[5]
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About This Article

Luigi Oppido
Co-authored by:
Computer & Tech Specialist
This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years. This article has been viewed 61,657 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: August 17, 2024
Views: 61,657
Categories: Apple iOS
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